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🎓 Arias Ortiz et al. (2021) – Higher Education and COVID-19 in Latin America and the Caribbean: Student Financing

Authors: Elena Arias Ortiz, Gregory Elacqua, Ángela López, Jorge Téllez Fuentes, Rafael Peralta Castro, Magali Ojeda, Yudi Blanco Morales, Francesc Pedró, Daniele Vieira do Nascimento, and Jaime Félix Roser Chinchilla

Publication: Inter-American Development Bank (technical note, July 2021)

📝 Objective and Methodology

This study analyzes the financing strategies deployed by governments, lending institutions (ICEs), and universities in 11 Latin American and Caribbean countries during the COVID-19 crisis. It is based on a regional survey of these actors, with the aim of identifying measures adopted in 2020 to ensure student access and retention.

✅ The Most Positive

1. Rapid and Collaborative Response

In the face of the pandemic, various support mechanisms—both financial and non-financial—were swiftly implemented to prevent dropouts and allow students to continue their studies.

2. Diversity of Aid Instruments

Multiple tools were used: emergency scholarships, flexible deadlines, credit rescheduling, and direct support from universities. This variety made it possible to offer solutions tailored to different realities.

3. Governmental and Institutional Commitment

The active participation of governments, ICE (National Institute of Statistics and Census), and universities demonstrated a joint effort to protect educational investment and mitigate the economic impact of the crisis.

4. Strategic Reflection for the Future

The article encourages a proactive approach: it invites us to rethink financing systems as a "re-imagination," strengthening their sustainability and capacity to increase enrollment and improve quality.

🌟 Conclusion

This paper highlights:

Institutional agility: rapid responses prevented mass dropouts.

A comprehensive approach: combining financial and academic aid was key.

Sustainable vision: a path to more robust and equitable financing systems is proposed.

In summary, the article presents educational financing management based on effective collaboration, adaptability in the face of crises, and a long-term strategic vision.

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❌ Negative aspects or limitations of the study

1. Persistent structural inequality

Despite efforts, many of the measures implemented failed to reach the most vulnerable students, especially:

Those in rural areas or without digital connectivity.

Students who were already facing economic hardship before the pandemic.

This reveals that the financing system continues to have significant access and coverage gaps.

2. Reactive and non-structural approach

The responses were emergent and reactive, not part of a financing model designed for resilience. This implies:

Lack of prior preparation.

Improvised measures, often not sustainable in the long term.

3. Lack of coordination between actors

The report shows that, in several countries, there was weak coordination between governments, educational lending institutions (ICEs), and universities. This led to:

Duplication of efforts in some cases.

Lack of attention or disorganization in others.

4. Poor Financial Sustainability

Many of the aid programs implemented during the pandemic:

Lacked clear or guaranteed funding.

They were subsidized with extraordinary resources or debt, which is unsustainable in the future.

This casts doubt on their continuity in prolonged crisis or post-pandemic scenarios.

5. Lack of Systematic Data

The article itself acknowledges that there is a lack of consistent and comparable data across countries on:

The real impact of financial measures.

Monitoring of beneficiary students.

Outcomes in terms of retention and graduation.

This limits the effective evaluation of the policies implemented.

📌 Critical Conclusion

Although the study reflects goodwill and useful measures, it also highlights:

Structural fragility in education financing systems.

The urgent need for profound, sustainable, and equitable reforms.

Many countries still lack a solid public policy infrastructure to guarantee university access and retention in critical situations.

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🔍 Interesting aspects of the article

1. Comparative regional overview

The study includes data and analysis from 11 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, allowing for:

A comparison of public policies and institutional responses.

A identification of common patterns and unique strategies. This makes it a valuable input for decision-makers and academics throughout the region.

2. Comprehensive approach to financing

It is not limited only to state financing, but also:

It analyzes the role of educational credit institutions (ICEs).

It reviews internal university actions (discounts, exemptions, and scholarships). This multifaceted approach broadens the understanding of the student support system.

3. Makes student voices visible

Although indirect, the article prioritizes student well-being by identifying how the measures affected:

Their permanence at the university.

Their ability to continue studies remotely. This demonstrates a focus on the end-user of the education system.

4. Opportunity for Innovation

The document points out that the crisis was also an opportunity to rethink and transform:

University financing models.

Technology-based support systems, payment flexibility, and personalized aid. This makes it a starting point for a more modern and adaptive structural reform.

5. Solid Technical and Academic Support

This is a report from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), with methodological rigor and a technical focus.

It involves authors with experience in education, economics, and public policy. This gives it credibility and practical utility for governments and institutions.

✨ Conclusion of the Interesting Facts

This article is especially valuable because it combines diagnosis, evaluation, and concrete proposals. It offers a comparative, technical, and human approach, useful for:

Diagnosing system weaknesses.

Replicating good practices.

Promoting evidence-based public policies.

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Arias Ortiz, E., Elacqua, G., López, Á., Téllez Fuentes, J., Peralta Castro, R., Ojeda, M., Blanco Morales, Y., Pedró, F., Vieira do Nascimento, D., & Roser Chinchilla, J. F. (2021). Higher Education and COVID-19 in Latin America and the Caribbean: Student Financing (Technical Note IDB-TN-02149). Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). https://doi.org/10.18235/0003284