Wietse de Vries

Millonarios o malparados ¿de qué depende el éxito de los egresados universitarios?

The literature on higher education and the job market usually points out that the higher the educational level, the greater the success in the labor market in terms of received income. However, in a study on university graduates in Mexico we found enormous differences between individuals with the same level of training. Although for the general population the differences in income could be explained by their educational level, with regard to university graduates this factor does not seem to be plausible. Based on data about graduates from nine Mexican universities, this article reviews which other factors might explain the differences in the income of individuals with the same educational level.

Reforms of University Governance in Mexico: Inducements for or Impediments to Change?

University governance in Mexico has gone through many reforms over the last two decades.1 From a traditional collegial model, it has moved toward a more managerial one. But what has really changed and why?

Reseña del libro: Adecuar la oferta de educación a la demanda de trabajo. ¿Es posilble? Una crítica a los análisis "adecuacionistas" de relación entre formación y empleo, de Jordi Planas

Predecir es complicado, especialmente cuando se trata del futuro, reza un dicho danes. Sin embargo, los oraculos de Delfos siguen siendo el pasatiempo favorito de politicos, funcionarios y academicos, sobre todo cuando se trata de reformar a la educacion superior. El oraculo ha adquirido incluso una evocacion cientifica –el metodo Delphi– que consiste en reunir a expertos para que expresen sus visiones sistematicamente. Frente a esta predileccion, el libro de Jordi Planas es un texto empiricamente bien informado –basado en varios proyectos de investigacion– que intenta convencer a un publico amplio de que el sortilegio no es la metodologia indicada para la reforma.

Higher Education and Wayward Labor Markets in Mexico

In an attempt to prepare students for the labor market using predictions on future employment trends, many Latin American institutions created new programs, systems, and incentives for unique, specialized majors, like nanotechnology and environmental design. These students seem to be having a harder time finding and feeling fulfilled by their work than many of their traditional-major counterparts. Shifting focus back to more broad, traditional courses of study such as law, civil engineering, and medicine may be challenging after two decades of contrary policy decisions.