Comparative Analysis of the Evaluation of Higher Education Institutions in Five Latin American Countries: Progress, Challenges and Perspectives

Abstract

The assessment of higher education institutions in Latin America has a rich history that has evolved over several decades. The increasing collaboration among countries and the incorporation of international quality standards have contributed to the improvement of evaluation systems. However, challenges persist, such as adapting to the specific needs of each country and promoting quality in a context of limited resources. To conduct a comparative analysis of the evaluation of higher education institutions in the five Latin American countries (Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Argentina, and Chile), a series of key aspects to be evaluated were identified: academic quality, research, internationalization, societal impact, administrative and financial management, and accreditation of academic programs. The comparative analysis of the evaluation of higher education institutions in Latin America reveals a diversity of approaches and challenges. The lack of official national rankings in most countries underscores the importance of global measurements in assessing academic quality. There is a need to adapt national standards and address quality gaps to ensure that universities in the region remain competitive at the international level.