UNIVERSITY: The Last Call? María Cristina Parra-Sandoval Ana Julia Bozo de Carmona Alicia Inciarte González UNIVERSITY: The Last Call? UNIVERSITY: THE LAST CALL? has been sponsored by the International Development Research Centre, Ottawa, Canada ( ) www.idrc.ca UNIVERSITY: THE LAST CALL? Copyright © 2010 by María Cristina Parra-Sandoval Ana Julia Bozo de Carmona Alicia Inciarte González [email protected] ISBN 978-980-12-4428-8 Legal Deposit lf 06120103002099 First published in 2010 English Translation: Susan Mc Laren Text Corrector: Beatriz Manrique Cover Design: Javier Ortiz The paper used in this book complies with the Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National Information Standards Organization (Z39.48-1984) Editing and Printing: Ediciones Astro Data, S.A. [email protected] Maracaibo, Venezuela CONTENTS List of Tables.................................................................................xiii List of Graphs.................................................................................xv List of Annexes.............................................................................xvii Acronyms......................................................................................xix Foreword by Judith Sutz ...............................................................xxi Introduction.................................................................................xxv CHAPTER I A NEW UNIVERSITY CONCEPT FOR LATIN AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES Transformation of the University: a Demand from the North and South .................................................................1 A brief Genealogy of the University ...........................................5 Underlying Forces that call for a Reconceptualization of the University......................................................................10 Latin America and the Caribbean in this Context....................15 Is a New University Model for the South Emerging in Venezuela?..........................................................................17 Venezuela: a Brief Presentation..............................................18 The Venezuelan Higher Education System: Structures and Legal Framework ............................................................20 Methodology ..........................................................................27 Looking for a New Form of University: Finding Plural Forms of Universities..............................................................33 CHAPTER II AN ALTERNATIVE THEORETICAL MODEL TO COMPREHEND THE NEW ROLES OF THE UNIVERSITY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES First Thematic Axis: Knowledge Production ..........................37 Essential Aspects of the Knowledge Production Axis ......39 viii UNIVERSITY: THE LAST CALL? Scientific Research..................................................39 Formative Research ................................................40 Technological Innovation.......................................41 Transfer of Technology and Social Appropriation of Knowledge ..........................................................43 Key Features of the Knowledge Production Axis ..............45 Gnoseological Approach.........................................46 Knowledge Production Mode .................................46 Project Concept.......................................................46 Insertion of Knowledge into Reality........................47 Spaces for Knowledge Production ..........................48 Competent Actors for Knowledge Production.........49 Relation of the University with the National Project for Science & Technology and other Crucial State Plans ..................................................49 Destinations for Research Results ..........................49 Second Thematic Axis: Concept of the University ...................51 Essential aspects of the Concept of the University Axis ...52 Social Function of the University ............................52 Academic-Organizational Structure.......................54 Key Features of the Concept of the University Axis...........55 Orientation of the University...................................55 University Government ..........................................58 Academic-Administrative Organization .................60 Training Model........................................................60 Third Thematic Axis: University-Surroundings Relationship for Knowledge Production ................................62 Essential Aspects of the University-Surroundings Relationship for Knowledge Production..........................66 Strategies for the University-Surroundings Relationship: Government, Communities, Communal Councils, Private Organizations, Educational Sector .................................................66 Contents ix University Forms of Territorial Insertion ................67 Key Features of the University-Surroundings Relationship for the Knowledge Production Axis ............69 Practices of the University-Surroundings Relationship............................................................69 Spatial distribution .................................................70 Fourth Thematic Axis: University Actors.................................71 Essential Aspects of the University Actors Axis.................74 Students..................................................................74 Professors ...............................................................77 Graduates ...............................................................80 Community .............................................................80 Key Features of the University Actors Axis........................81 Student Admission System .....................................81 Student Participation in Community and Knowledge-Producing Projects ..............................81 Identification with the University Orientation ........82 System for Hiring Professors...................................82 Tenure and Promotion System for Professors ........82 Training System for Professors ...............................82 Graduates by Gender...............................................82 CHAPTER III THE CASE OF VENEZUELA: APPLYING THE THEORETICAL MODEL TO EVALUATE THE EMERGENCE OF AN ALTERNATIVE UNIVERSITY First Thematic Axis: Knowledge Production ..........................86 Gnoseological Approach.........................................86 Knowledge Production Mode .................................89 Project Concept.......................................................97 Insertion of Knowledge into Reality......................100 Spaces for Knowledge Production ........................101 Competent Actors for Knowledge Production ......103 x UNIVERSITY: THE LAST CALL? Relationship of the University with the National Project for Science & Technology and other Crucial State Plans ................................................104 Destinations for Research Results ........................106 Second Thematic Axis: Concept of the University .................109 Orientation of the University.................................109 University Government ........................................113 Academic-Administrative Organization ...............117 Training Model......................................................118 Third Thematic Axis: University-Surroundings Relationship for Knowledge Production ...................................................126 Practices of University-Surroundings Relationship..........................................................127 Spatial Distribution...............................................130 Fourth Thematic Axis: University Actors ..............................134 Student Admission System ...................................134 Student Participation in Community and Knowledge-Producing Projects .....................138 Identification with the University Orientation ......140 System for Hiring Professors.................................141 Tenure and Promotion System for Professors ......142 Training System for Professors ............................143 Graduates by Gender.............................................143 CHAPTER IV A PLURALITY OF CONCEPTS FOR UNIVERSITIES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES A New Tool Box ....................................................................149 New Codes and Referents that justify a Reconceptualization of the University in Developing Countries ............................150 The Notion of Development ...........................................150 The Functions of the University......................................152 The Concept of University Education as a Human Right and Public Good....................................................153 Contents xi Renovating Models for a New Concept of University ............156 Entrepreneurial University (EU).....................................158 Developmental University (DU)......................................160 Socialist University ........................................................164 Expectations and Challenges for the University in Developing Countries .......................................................167 Quality vis à vis Equity in Higher Education ...................167 University Knowledge Production: Scientific or Heterodox? ................................................................176 The Trivialization of Higher Education ..........................179 Toward a new Concept of University for Developing Countries..............................................................................181 Unavoidable Conditions and Nuances for Undertaking Reconceptualization