Desde una perspectiva general, la acreditación de programas educativos representa un mecanismo para orientar las tareas educativas de la formación profesional, con prácticas y resultados que se reconocen desde un horizonte nacional e internacional, convirtiéndose en la estrategia que han asumido las universidades e instituciones de educación superior, para impulsar el mejoramiento permanente y el logro de calidad educativa. Algunas preguntas que orientan el debate sobre el tema de la acreditación de programas educativos son, entre otras: ¿qué beneficios estructurales han tenido los procesos de acreditación de programas educativos en el sistema de educación superior en América Latina y España?, ¿cuáles son los cambios de carácter académico que en los últimos 15 años se han generado en el sistema de educación superior, en comparación con los sistemas de países con los que tenemos acuerdos bilaterales?, ¿los indicadores y estándares de calidad reportados por el Consejo para la Acreditación de la Educación Superior, qué significado tienen en el contexto nacional e internacional?, ¿cuál es la visión de la acreditación y certificación de la educación superior en España y América Latina? En esta obra de dos volúmenes se rescatan algunas respuestas a las interrogantes planteadas, mediante la recuperación de experiencias institucionales y productos de investigación sobre el tema. Finalmente, se caracterizan y explican las tensiones, desencuentros, conflictos y resultados de la acreditación de la educación superior y de la gestión de la calidad de los programas educativos en la Región Iberoamericana.

Higher education in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) has expanded dramatically in the new millennium, yet enrollment in short-cycle programs (SCPs) is still relatively low. Shorter and more practical than bachelor’s programs, SCPs can form skilled human capital fast. The economic crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic has accentuated underlying trends, such as automation, the use of electronic platforms, and the need for lifelong learning. Addressing these demands requires the urgent upskilling and reskilling of the population—a task for which SCPs are uniquely suited. The Fast Track to New Skills: Short-Cycle Higher Education Programs in Latin America and the Caribbean explores the labor market out¬comes and returns of SCPs, examines their providers, and identifies the practices adopted by the best programs. Relying on unique data that includes a novel survey of SCP directors in five LAC countries, it finds that while SCPs generate, on average, good labor market out¬comes, they vary greatly in quality. SCP providers respond quickly and flexibly to local economy needs; and specific practices related to faculty, job search assistance, and interaction with prospective em¬ployers are distinctive of the best programs. Drawing on these findings, The Fast Track to New Skills discusses how to create an environment where good programs are offered and students have the interest and means to attend them. It draws attention to a higher education sector that has been typically overlooked, both in research and policy. The Fast Track to New Skills will be of interest to policy makers, researchers, and the public at large.

Globalization, the information age, and the rise of the knowledge-based economy are significantly transforming the way we acquire, disseminate, and transform knowledge. And, as a result, knowledge production is becoming closer and more directly linked to economic competitiveness. This evolution is also putting new and urgent demands on academic institutions to adjust to the changing needs of society and economy. In particular, there is growing pressure on the institutions of higher education and research in developed economies to find and affirm their new role in the national innovation system. Their counterparts in developing economies need to define their role in supporting emerging structures of the innovation system. This book examines the role of universities and national research institutes in social and economic development processes. Featuring contributions that showcase initiatives and innovations from around the world, including China, Eastern Europe, Latin America, Scandinavia, Southeast Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and Western Europe, it offers timely insight that will be of interest to policymakers, university administrators, economic and social leaders, and researchers alike.

In a world where innovation is considered to be a key driver for a new economy, Higher Education Institutions (HEI) can play a pivotal role. With this understanding, HEI in Latin America, have become significantly more entrepreneurial over the last decades in order to perform their 'third mission' - provide a greater benefit to society. UniTransfer, the project that gives birth to this book, emerges as a response to a better understanding of the nature of knowledge and technology transfer (KTT), presenting interesting alternative approaches to KTT such as; 'Science-to-business marketing', 'Partnering approaches for knowledge transfer' and 'Academic Entrepreneurship'; further it offers tools and proposes actions to implement change from within the structures of HEIs in Central America and Mexico. This publication portrays the projects developed by the participants from UniTransfer - Executive Training Course. Each chapter constitutes an approach and a good practice that can be further consulted by any other academic institution in a similar context striving for change to success. Moreover, the projects developed from each participant illustrate the specific profiles, visions and missions, as well as organisational and governance frameworks that the new leadership in higher education needs to embrace if it ought to fulfil its new entrepreneurial role beyond the traditional boundaries of the HEI. 'The UniTransfer Executive Training Course at Münster University of Applied Sciences, Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica and Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, helped me to think in markets and beyond my own institution and role as an academic. The visits to the technology parks and to the transfer agencies in Münster, San José and Pachuca helped me to bring new models to be adapted to our region.' José Luis Antón de la Concha, Vice rector of Research, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, México 'After UniTransfer I realize that university-business linkages can make a great contribution to the development of our countries and societies. Sharing different points of views and experiences has been beneficial for new knowledge acquisition and invaluable friendship from Costa Rica, Mexico, Germany, Spain and Australia. Thank you all!' Marcelino Antonio Castro-Baltodano, Universidad Nacional de Ingeniaría, Nicaragua

In the dynamic environment of education, the traditional methods employed by educators are struggling to keep pace with the evolving needs of students in the 21st century. The challenge lies in fostering an environment that not only engages students but also equips them with the skills essential for the modern world. Teachers find themselves navigating a complex terrain where outdated pedagogical approaches fall short of unlocking the full potential of diverse learning styles and unique talents within their classrooms. Enhancing Education With Intelligent Systems and Data-Driven Instruction is a groundbreaking book that goes beyond the constraints of conventional teaching methods, offering a comprehensive guide that inspires and equips educators with innovative tools and approaches. From integrating innovative technology to cultivating collaborative learning environments, the book provides a roadmap for educators to reimagine their teaching practices. By embracing student-centered approaches, fostering diversity, and utilizing digital tools effectively, this book empowers teachers to transform their classrooms into dynamic hubs of inspiration, motivation, and empowerment.

This open access book offers unique and novel views on the social innovation landscape, tools, practices, pedagogies, and research in the context of higher education. International, multi-disciplinary academics and industry leaders present new developments, research evidence, and practice expertise on social innovation in higher education institutions (HEIs), across academic and professional disciplines. The book includes a selected set of peer-reviewed chapters presenting different perspectives against which relevant actors can identify and analyse social innovation in HEIs. The volume demonstrates how HEIs can respond to societal challenges, support positive social change, and contribute to the development of international public policy discourse. It answers the question ‘how does the present higher education system, in different countries, promote social innovation and create social change and impact’. In answering this question, the book identifies factors driving success as well as obstacles. Furthermore, it examines how higher education innovation assists societal challenges and investigates the benefits of effective social innovation engagement by HEIs. The interdisciplinary approach of the volume makes it a must-read for scholars, students, policy-makers, and practitioners of economics, education, business and management, political science, and sociology interested in a better understanding of social innovation.

During the last decades, our society is witnessing an authentic revolution that, in a dizzying manner has deeply influenced, modified, and transformed the way of life of human beings. This constant and unstoppable revolution is transmuting all areas of our life: social, cultural, personal, labor, economic, training, etc. This new society is characterized by a high generation of knowledge and the constant and fluid processing of information. In this macro-context, the MOOC phenomenon emerged. MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses) courses are based on the principles of massive, free access to all materials and resources offered online. This new didactic path can be constituted in an innovative techno-social tendency, especially oriented in the panorama of Higher Education to stimulate university improvement, open opportunities at the same time for education and training or, simply, derive towards a new business model for the universities. In addition to being an entry point for the popularization of science and knowledge, the future possibilities are enormous and are being studied in all their various dimensions. Many initiatives as a result have been developed to implement this new form of education. MOOC Courses and the Future of Higher Education presents the latest research theories and current examples of MOOC courses practices in Higher Education. The chapters represent an extensive assortment of interpretations and practices examples of MOOC courses, across areas as varied as teaching methodologies, instructional innovations, educational technology, etc. This work is structured in three sections, the first one covers the university institution in the knowledge society, the second analyzes the MOOC training proposals, and the third discusses the future role of MOOCs. Technical topics discussed in the book include: The Virtualization of Teaching in Higher EducationTraining and Professional Development at the e-UniversityTaxonomy of MOOCsMOOC: Strengths and WeaknessesMOOCs and the Scientific Community: Challenges and InnovationMOOC PlatformsDirectory of MOOC ResourcesMOOC: Reflections of the Future