Academic quality and social relevance of higher education in Latin America

Abstract

Higher Education Institutions (IES for its acronym in Spanish) face changing conditions that cast doubt on the image and mission the IES are called to comply. This paper addresses the primary issues faced by IES and repercussions on the academic sphere, among others: i.e. the growing demand for higher education, the new demands of labor markets, ways for knowledge production and management, the impact of globalization on higher education, the growing interest of the external sector in universities, the creation of proper resources for funding themselves, implementation of new technologies in higher education. The relevance or importance of higher education belongs to a dimension of quality of higher education services. Social responsibility of the institutions and curricula should be of maximum concern when it comes to accountability.