The Non-University Sector in the Spanish System of Higher Education

Abstract

Non-university higher education has played only a minor role in Spanish higher education. In order to understand the case better and to appreciate the characteristics of higher education in Spain, it might be useful to start by providing some remarks on the general system of education, particularly the role of universities within the overall framework. Education policies in European countries have undergone substantial changes over the last 20 years. Of course, such a transformation has very much depended on specific national characteristics as well as social and economic circumstances. In many aspects, the Spanish system of higher education differs from the main trends to be found in the principal European countries, such as France, Germany or Britain. This can be explained not only by the slower rate of social and economic development, but also by the difficulties that schools, other educational establishments and governments have had to face in order to overcome well-entrenched routines (Bricall 2000). In Europe the present situation has probably been the result of a long process of evolution that started many years ago due to the political and social changes of the 18th century. Prior to that century, the ultimate aim of institutions of learning was to prepare their students – admittedly very few in number – on their way to University. Everywhere, students or their families used to view learning as the obvious way to attain higher education, the University being only the end of their training. The highest level of education used to be higher education for a limited number of people alongside a huge number of illiterate persons. Since the 18th century primary education has become generalised and has reached everybody. Primary studies, and even the first years of secondary education, gradually came to be considered compulsory by European governments; and governments tried to ensure financial provisions for such a generalisation either directly or indirectly. That has been one of the consequences of modern times,