Post on 25-Aug-2018
The Higher Education System in Venezuela: Overview and Challenges to Academic
Freedom
David Gómez Gamboa
I. Context
II. Higher Education System in Venezuela
• Government – Self-government
• Structure
• The faculties
III. Challenges to academic freedom
The Higher Education System in Venezuela: Overview and Challenges to Academic Freedom
@AulaAbiertaVE | @LiberAcademica| @LuzDDHH
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights(Human Rights Council of the United Nations session, March 7th, 2018 ).
Image: Main 7 National Universities in Venezuela. Map Source: Microsoft Map Point
REPUBLICA BOLIVARIANA DE VENEZUELA
Constitution recognizes education as a human right and a fundamental socialduty; it is democratic, free of charge and obligatory (Art. 102, 103)
Academic freedom and institutional autonomy are also constitutionallyrecognized.
• Socioeconomic context negatively impacts education
• Education system has different subsystems.
• The Higher Education Subsystem includes university undergraduate and graduate levels.
http://uis.unesco.org/en/country/ve
Accessibility to education (Provea, 2016) In April 2016, the Minister said that 410,189 university places were allocated: 75% public high schools, 56% women, 3,127 indigenous
groups (0,8%), 1,301 disabilities (0,3%).
But, on 05.07.2016 Minister gave other figures: applications 317,723 and assigned
222,999. Remaining 94,684 granted in September. (Provea, 2016)
Neither Education
Ministry
nor Higher Education
Ministry presented an
accountability
Annual Report in 2016
Higher Education System Population (MPPPEUCT)2015: 2.622.0132016: 2.800.000
• 7 National universities (365,000 students - Report UPR 2016)*
• 27 Private Universities (290.000 students- Report UPR)
• Mission Sucre (Parallel system: Bolivarian University of Venezuela and UNEFA (200,000 students- UPR report)
• Experimental universities, University colleges, University institutes and Institutes of advanced studies
*(Universidad Central de Venezuela; Universidad Centro Occidental Lisandro Alvarado; Universidad de Carabobo; Universidad de Los Andes; Universidad de Oriente; Universidad del Zulia; Universidad Simón Bolívar)
Student Dropouts
UDO LUZ ULA UCV
29,1%40%
40%
+ 40%
www.aulaabiertavenezuela.org | www.derechosuniversitarios.org | www.libertadacademica.org
4.241.000 18-24
years old students
enrolled by August
2017:
• 2.546.000 do
not attend
classes.
• 1.602.000
thousand
students
attend classes.
• Between 2011 and
2016 rates have
ranged from 10% to
30% of the total
student population.
• However, in 2017-
2018 they have
increased considerably
between 45% and
50%.
• The student dropout
rate has increased
since the allocation of
the quotas of public
universities in the
country has been
centralized in the
Office of Planning of
the University Sector
(OPSU) since 2015 in
contravention to
university autonomy.
Groups with Special
Protection Needs
Constitution (1999) “The law shall guarantee equal attention to persons with special needs or disabilities …”.
The Law for Persons with Disabilities (2006) states the protection to educational rights of persons with disabilities, attributing responsibility to the State in order to regulate and execute modalities for education of people with disabilities.
STUDENT POPULATION
AVERAGE 2008-2012 UCV:
44,975
PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS WITH
DISABILITIES:
0.26%
Main places of higher education institutions do not have the minimum
conditions of accessibility and walkability for people
with disabilities.
2012
• UCV Faculty of Engineering: 52% of female students
• Participation of women in management positions at
UCV: 14 members of the UCV Council are women (36
members).
• Faculty women deans: 6 (11 faculties at UCV)
• From 44 centers of students more than 50% have
women who were elected as presidents and vice-
presidents for these positions.
• Currently, UCV, LUZ, ULA, UC, UCLA, UDO, UNICA
and UB, as well, are currently conducting gender and
women studies.
Regarding women´s access to education: Women enrollment: between 50%-65%
Regarding LGBTI students, there is not a consistent inclusion policy on the
matter
@AulaAbiertaVE | @LiberAcademica| @LuzDDHH
Women and LGBTI in Higher Education
II. Higher Education System in Venezuela
Government’s Role
• Both, the Ministry of Popular Power for University Education, Science and Technology and the University Sector Planning Office (OPSU) operate at National/Federal government.
• Concerns about the role from OPSU, a body called to serve as a technical assistant to the National Council of Universities has ended up attributing competences of the country´s national universities
• National Council of Universities (CNU)
Higher Education Financing and
Accreditation
• Main source for Universities
institutional income is represented
by governmental support, but
universities may receive private
donations as well.
• Lack of adequate budget
allocation according to university
needs.
• Accreditation is centralized in
Ministry offices.
@AulaAbiertaVE | @LiberAcademica| @LuzDDHH
ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE OF UNIVERSITIES AND SELF-GOVERNMENT BODIES
University Council • Highest decision-making body within national universities. • It is composed of the Rector, the Vice Rectors, the Secretary, the Deans of the
Faculties, five representatives of the professors, three representatives of the students, a representative of the graduates and a delegate of the Ministry of Education.
• Their decisions and the general function of government are exercised in the person of the Rector, the Vice Rectors and the Secretary.
Rector (President)The Rector-President is the legal representative of the University
Vice Rectors (Vice Chancellors): Administrative , Academic , Secretary
Appeals Council (disciplinary matters)
@AulaAbiertaVE | @LiberAcademica| @LuzDDHH
Government Structure in each Faculty (University units)
• Faculty Assembly
• Faculty Council
• Dean
• Schools
• Teaching and research staff
• The professors
Comisión de Derechos Humanos
Facultad de Ciencias Jurídicas y Políticas
Universidad del Zulia
@AulaAbiertaVe @LuzDDHH
@LiberAcademica
Faculty Professors and Research Staff:
a) The Instructors. To be an Instructor, a university degree is required.
b) Assistant Teachers.The assistant teachers must have a university degree, pedagogical training, and have been an instructor for at least 2 years. The Assistant Professors will last 4 years in the exercise of their functions.
c) The “Agregado” Professors.Must have a Post-graduated university degree and they will last 4 years in their functions.
d) Associate ProfessorsAssociate Professors must hold the title of Doctor (PhD) and they will last, at least, 5 years in the exercise of their functions.
e) The “Entitled” ProfessorsTo be a Full Professor it is required to have been Associate Professor, for at least 5 years. The Full Professors will last in the exercise of their functions until they are retired.
@AulaAbiertaVE | @LiberAcademica| @LuzDDHH
Faculty Attrition Rate
ULA UCV LUZ UDO
50% 50%
35% 35%
www.aulaabiertavenezuela.org | www.derechosuniversitarios.org | www.libertadacademica.org
Source: www.aulabiertavenezuela.org (2017)
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Comparative Salary Scale between Venezuela and some Other Countries
III. Overview and Challenges to Academic
Freedom in Venezuela
General patterns on violations to academic freedom and university
autonomy in Venezuela.
Professors Mayda Hocevar (ULA) and David Gómez (LUZ) on behalf of Venezuelan Civil Society Ngos and Universities coalition. IACHR 165th period of sessions, Montevideo, 24-25th Oct. 2017.
OrganicLaw of
Education
Second Socialist Plan for Economic
and Social Development of the Nation 2013-2019.
Reform Project of the Organic Law
on Higher Education
(PLEU)
2017 National
Constitutional
Assembly
www.aulaabiertavenezuela.org | www.derechosuniversitarios.org | www.libertadacademica.org
Concerns about National LegalFramework
ARBITRARY DETENTIONS AGAINST STUDENTS AND PROFESSORS
April May June July
Serie 3
Serie 2
Columna16254
144
79
Total: At
least 339
students
Arbitrarily detained students from April 1st to July
30th, 2017
Source: Aula Abierta Venezuela´s Observatory of University Rights, September 2017.
www.aulaabiertavenezuela.org | www.derechosuniversitarios.org | www.libertadacademica.org
SCHOLARS DETAINED
12
1
4
8
5
Released under a
provisional measure
Deprived of liberty
Released from the
detention centers
Brought before military
courts
Brought before ordinary
courts
Total: At least 17 arbitrarily detained
Source: Aula Abierta Venezuela´s Observatory of University Rights, September 2017.
www.aulaabiertavenezuela.org | www.derechosuniversitarios.org | www.libertadacademica.org
Attacks to University
Campuses by the
State Security
Forces.
21 attacks or break-ins
in campuses in April-
July 2017.
GNB responsible for
41%. outbreaks
• JEL Scholarship (Zulia-2016): 896 students temporarily expelled.
• Regional elections (2017)
• Discrimination selecting interns at Government owned companies
• José Atacho (Falcón), Isaac Lugo (Falcón), Rafael Avendaño (Mérida), Carlos ´Pancho´ Ramirez (Mérida), among others students.
• Medicine graduate students at University Hospital of Maracaibo City (Zulia 2017).
@AulaAbiertaVE | @LiberAcademica| @LuzDDHH
Discrimination Patterns in the Higher Education System
State Intervention in the Universities
Internal Affairs
Siege of the Venezuelan Judicial Branch against universities?
UNIVERSITY AUTHORITIES APPOINTMENT BY
THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF UNIVERSITIES
The University
Simon Bolivar
Academic Vice-
President was
arbitrarily
appointed ( July,
2017).
Commission to
“verify” the validity
of the nomination
of Nelly Velazquez
as the new
President of
Universidad
Centroccidental
Lisando Alvarado
(UCLA)
@AulaAbiertaVE | @LiberAcademica| @LuzDDHH
• Concerns regarding the constant, systematic and accelerated deterioration of Internet and
telephone service throughout all the country during recent years, but especially in 2017-
2018, when reiterative black-outs and even daily electric power shut downs have occurred
across the country.
Academic / Scientific Research
Chart: Payment granted to researchers by the
Government Program for the Stimulus for Innovation
and Research (PEII) in foreign currency
Source: comparative chart made with official information obtained from ONCTI and Aula Abierta, March 2018
• Concerns about
the very limited
funds granted by
the national
government for
research, services
delivery and
infrastructure of
Public Universities
in Venezuela.
@AulaAbiertaVe
@LuzDDHH
@LiberAcademica
#DerechosUniversitarioswww.AulaAbiertaVenezuela.org
www.DerechosUniversitarios.orgwww.LibertadAcademica.org
Thank you very much!