Comparative Analysis of Higher Education Quality Assurance in Colombia and Ecuador: How is Political Ideology Reflected in Policy Design and Discourse?

Abstract

Throughout Latin America there is evidence of policy change reflecting greater emphasis on quality assurance within higher education institutions and programs. Focusing principally on indicators such as adoption of laws and creation of regulatory agencies, prior studies have emphasized the similarities across countries. Given the stark contrasts in political ideologies among Latin American countries one might wonder if policy change in the realm of higher education quality assurance manifests differently in countries with different ideologies. Using discourse analysis, evidence is found to support theories which would predict differences between the neoliberal and externally focused orientation in Colombia and the more leftist and internally focused Plan de Buen Vivir in Ecuador. Our findings indicate the importance of examining more qualitative elements of policy discourse as one measure of policy change and not relying solely on concrete quantitative indicators.