An analysis of the relationship between higher education and development by applying Sen's human capabilities approach. The case of three technological universities in Mexico. Pedro Flores Crespo A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy The University of York Department of Politics February 2002 \ To those UT graduates from Neza, Tula and Aguascalientes who pursue their freedom through education Contents List of abbreviations -X- List of charts -XI- List of figures -XII- Listofmaps -XII- List of tables -XII- Acknowledgements -XV- Abstract -XVII- Introduction I. The statement of the problem...................................................................................................... -2- III. The aims of the study................................................................................................................. -4- III. Outline of the thesis................................................................................................................... -4- Chapter 1 Literature review The evolution of thought about education and development: An introduction......................... -9- I. Macrolevel analyses...................................................................................................................... -11- A. Human capital theory.................................................................................................... -11- B. The relationship between education and the labour market.................................... -13- C. Manpower planning. “Educational requirements for economic growth’ .................-16- D. Knowledge-based economy: Towards a re-configuration of education......................-19- II. Microlevel approaches................................................................................................................. -22- A. Rates of return on investment in education............................................................... -22- B. Education for human development: Raising qualitative issues ............................ -24- Conclusions ......................................................................................................................................... -26- Chapter 2 Education and development. A discussion with reference to Mexico. Introduction......................................................................................................................................... -30- I. Public expenditure in education .................................................................................................. -31- II. The contradictions between education and the labour market ............................................ -32- III. Mexico and its knowledge-based economy............................................................................. -35- IV. Rates on returns of investment in education. Their consequences in M exico ................ -38- V. An approach to the human development approach. The case of M exico.......................... -40- Conclusions ......................................................................................................................................... -41- 0- Chapter 3 Methodology Introduction........................................................................................................................................ -44- I. Short background of Mexico's educational context................................................................... -44- II. Research design........................................................................................................................... -48- A. Case-study. An attempt to understand the general theory..................................... -48- 1. Operational criterion........................................................................................ -49- 2. Regional criterion............................................................................................. -50- 3. Some warnings about the case-study method............................................ -50- B. Data collection techniques............................................................................................. -51- 1. Documents........................................................................................................ -51- 2. Surveys. Searching for measurability.............................................................-53- a. The advantages and disadvantages of survey approach ............ -54- b. Sampling issues................................................................................. -55- i. Population ............................................................................. -56- ii. Sample design...................................................................... -56- iii. Conceptual definitions........................................................ -57- 3. Questionnaires................................................................................................. -58- 4. Interviews........................................................................................................... -59- C. Comparative method .................................................................................................... -62- D. Analysing d a ta ....................................................................... -63- E. Pilot study........................................................................................................................ '63- Final comments.................................................................................................................................... '65- Chapter 4 Sen's human capabilities approach in the analysis of development and education Introduction........................................................................................................................................ -67- I. The contested definitions of development.................................................................................. -68- II. Education, development and freedom from Sen's perspective............................................. -72- A. Amartya Sen meets Paulo Freire ............................................................................... -75- B. Analysing Sen's human capabilities approach........................................................... -77- Basic concepts of Sen's approach.................................................................... -79- Conclusions ......................................................................................................................................... -82- Chapter 5 The technological universities and their contexts. A documentary analysis Introduction......................................................................................................................................... -84- I. The creation of the technological universities in Mexico.......................................................... -84- A. The technical basis for creating a development-oriented model of education.. -87- B. The growth of the UT sub-system............................................................................... -91- C. The mission of the U Ts.................................................................................................. -93- II. Regional analyses. Similarities and disparities.......................................................................... -94- A. The State of Mexico. The “huge neighbor" of Mexico C ity................................... -94- 1. Demographic and economic figures............................................................. -94- 2. Education in the State .................................................................................... -97- 3. Income level....................................................................................................... -99- 4. Migration in the State of M exico..................................................................... -99- 5. Some aspects of the labour market .......................................................... -100- B. The State of Hidalgo. The most deprived region................................................... -101- 1. Demographic and economic figures.......................................................... -101- 2. The educational structure of Hidalgo ........................................................ -103- 3. Income level.................................................................................................... -105- 4. Migration. A long-standing phenomenon in Hidalgo .............................. -105- 5. Some aspects of the labour market .......................................................... -106- C. The State of Aguascalientes...................................................................................... -107- 1. Demography and economy.......................................................................... -107- 2. Education in Aguascalientes........................................................................ -109- 3. Income level.................................................................................................... -111- 4. Aguascalientes. An attractive place to live................................................. -111- 5. Some aspects of the labour market .......................................................... -112- til. The “feasibility" studies of the UTs.......................................................................................... -114- A. The Technological University of Nezahualcdyotl (UTN) ....................................