Sinéctica

Learner identity. A study about personal and situational influences with education university students

Paola Verónica Paoloni, María Cristina Rinaudo, Daiana Schlegel — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The purpose of this paper is to deepen our understanding of the influences exerted on the process of constructing learning identities. Drawing on current developments on the topic, we conducted an empirical study following the guidelines of a qualitative methodology. We worked with students taking psychology courses required for teacher training at a public university in Argentina. Data were collected using a questionnaire designed to explore representations and experiences related to their learning identities. Data analysis considered recommendations from grounded theory and implemented cross-coding procedures. The results indicated that students were able to recognize the influence of personal traits and the ties established in family and institutional contexts over their learning identities development. The study's conclusions include a broadening of the theoretical perspective, recognizing the influence of socioemotional competencies and the dynamic nature of identity construction processes. Regarding teaching practices, we emphasize the importance of the opportunities for participation that are provided for students, and the nature of the interactions and assessments that accompany or follow them.

Development and validation of a tool for detecting at-risk students

Gilda Teresa Rojas-Fernández, José Francisco Cortés-Sotres — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Systems for detecting students at risk of dropout range from direct observation to those based on machine learning techniques. The purpose of the study was to develop and validate a self-detection tool for high school dropout risk. Characteristics or traits consistently mentioned in the literature about at-risk students, such as economic struggles, lack of commitment to school, broad social motives, and others, served as indicators for the development of a questionnaire, which was administered online and employs an additive scoring indicating dropout risk. So that, the higher the score, the greater the risk. A convenience sample of 1006 public high school students participated in the study. Reliability analysis showed strong internal consistency of the scale (a = 0.9187). Factor analysis identified three priority factors. This questionnaire offers students a reliable and valid gauge of dropout risk. In addition, it enables timely interventions by educational authorities to enhance student retention and graduation rate.

Teaching practices in higher secondary education for the construction of historical consciousness

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The concept of historical consciousness holds paramount relevance within the pedagogical framework of the Nueva Escuela Mexicana, serving as a key element for understanding the past, critically examining the present, and envisioning a well-informed and conscientious future. This study aims to analyze the pedagogical approaches related to the development of historical consciousness in upper secondary education, based on the theoretical foundations of the Nueva Escuela Mexicana. Its objective is to identify effective strategies and areas for improvement in the teaching of History within the “marco curricular común de la educación media superior”. A mixed-methods approach was employed, including measurement scales, questionnaires, and focus group discussions with upper secondary school educators in the state of Hidalgo, México.

Everyone fits in the market by learning to adapt. Structure of private higher education in the State of Mexico

Mitzi Danae Morales Montes — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This article analyzes the structure of private higher education in the State of México, which ranks second nationally in private sector enrollment. It explores three key areas: the regulatory framework governing the validity of academic programs offered by private institutions; the growth of offerings with Official Recognition of Validity of Studies (RVOE) and their integration into the Autonomous University of the State of México; and the expansion of programs by municipality, field of study, and modality. The article also highlights a trend toward oligopolistic organization within the private sector. The data analyzed are drawn from statistical reports, legal statutes, and regulatory frameworks.The findings reveal that the consolidation of private higher education offerings has been uneven, largely due to the region’s socioeconomic heterogeneity. Furthermore, there is a marked concentration of offerings in particular municipalities, academic programs, modalities, and institutions. This market dynamic appears to result from governmental decisions granting the private sector broad autonomy in defining its educational offerings, the lenient oversight of RVOE procedures, and institutional strategies focused on maximizing profitability.

Higher education markets in Oaxaca: Shifts and continuities during the 2018–2024 administration

Tiffany Abigail Pérez Ramos, Gustavo Mejía Pérez, José Luis González Callejas — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This paper analyzes the socio-spatial transformations of higher education markets in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico, during the 2018–2024 presidential term, from the perspective of the geography of educational markets. Based on data from institutional sources, maps of higher education markets were developed for the state’s eight regions at both the beginning and end of the period, to compare changes in the provision of tertiary education. Data were collected on school-based higher education offerings (normal schools and bachelor's degrees), as well as on the type of administrative control (public or private). Additionally, the distribution of enrollment was analyzed at the state level, disaggregated by administrative control and gender. The results show a general increase in both the availability and enrollment in higher education; however, this growth is uneven and marked by territorial disparities: regions with a high concentration of institutions coexist with others offering few or no educational opportunities. The study concludes that, despite the overall expansion of educational offerings and enrollment, and certain advances in coverage and decentralization, there was no structural transformation of the higher education markets in Oaxaca during the 2018–2024 period.

Quality in Catholic higher education in México: A case study

Alejandro Uribe López — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The main objective of this article is to describe the meaning and significance that the actors of a private Catholic university in the Metropolitan Area of Guadalajara, Mexico, have constructed regarding the concept of educational quality. To achieve this, a three-year qualitative study was conducted using a case study approach. The methodology included semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders and a focus group with internal participants from the institution. This approach made it possible to capture the interpretive richness and the plurality of perspectives surrounding the concept of educational quality. The findings reveal that, in this Catholic university, the notion of quality is dynamic and multifaceted, encompassing both economic and humanistic perspectives. It is evident that the practical interpretation of quality by institutional actors often goes beyond the formally established philosophical ideals, resulting in the adaptation of policies and practices to simultaneously meet labor market demands and fulfill the university’s social mission. In conclusion, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of how Catholic universities negotiate, reinterpret, and redefine the concept of educational quality in a context of increasing competition within higher education.

Presentación

Juan Carlos Silas Casillas — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000