Financing higher education through the budget and university autonomy:

compatible today?

Abstract

THE AUTONOMY OF UNIVERSITIES IN LATIN AMERICA HAS BEEN IN FORCE FOR MORE THAN NINETY YEARS; HOWEVER, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CONQUER THEIR OWN FINANCIAL AUTONOMY. THIS LIMITATION IN FINANCING HAS LED TO A DECREASE IN THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION, THE PRESTIGE OF PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES, AND COMPETITION FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR. THE TIME HAS COME TO REVIEW THE PURE CONCEPT OF AUTONOMY AND LINK IT TO ASPECTS OF BUDGETARY SUSTAINABILITY, INTRODUCING RESULTS-BASED MANAGEMENT AS A TOOL FOR BETTER RESOURCE ALLOCATION.