Abstract
The paper shows the situation on higher education and employment policies in Mexico based on the opinion of key persons related to the issue. Scholars, government officers and entrepreneurs participated with their opinions in a survey designed for collecting information. It is very important to know not only from the society but also from the specific policy makers that what is going vs official version in order to get some more objective information about this interesting topic. In conclusion, Mexico’s higher education policies must provide a strategic vision based on the development of a coordinated industrial policy. It is imperative to improve the balance between supply and demand for professionals, whose studies are based on policies designed to improve Mexico’s productive structure and its integration into the international economy.
Highlights
A recent UNESCO document [1] emphasizes that while the number of students in higher education increases, greater attention must be paid to the quality of the graduating student skills and their relation to real-world workplace demands
There are many studies on the links between higher education, employment and economic performance [2] [3] and regional analysis for Latin America [4]-[7], Asia and the Pacific [8]-[11]. As both part of Latin America and part of the Pacific Rim, Mexico shares many of the characteristics and problems presented in these studies [9] [10] [12]-[14]
The current global recession shows that employment problems are generated by the supply side because many graduates do not have the skills required by the labor market [2] [3] [15]
Summary
A recent UNESCO document [1] emphasizes that while the number of students in higher education increases, greater attention must be paid to the quality of the graduating student skills and their relation to real-world workplace demands. A study carried out by the National Association of Universities and Institutions of Higher Education (ANUIES, in Spanish) [17] reveals that difficulty in finding employment affects 40% of university graduates, significantly affecting the total professional unemployment rate which is currently at 5.1%. This rate can potentially increase significantly as Higher Education Institution (HEI) graduate unemployment will affect approximately 3 million persons in 2020 In this regard, the Special Committee on Strengthening Higher Education and Training to Promote Development and Competitiveness (CEFESCDC, in Spanish) suggests stakeholders: 1) Identify career opportunities in growth areas required by Mexico in order to better counsel students who are enrolling in HEIs for the first time.
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