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Accreditation Processes in Latin America: An Exploration into the Cases of Library and Information Science (LIS) Programs in Mexico, Colombia, and Costa Rica

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Abstract

Quality assurance in higher education has become a major concern in most Latin American countries, due to the proliferation of higher education institutions, prominently in the private sector. In this regard, governmental and nongovernmental organizations have implemented valuable initiatives and projects, at national and regional levels, and some countries exhibit well-developed quality assurance systems (Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Colombia, and Costa Rica). However, very few cases of quality assurance in the particular field of LIS education have been documented in the region. This article describes the accreditation processes of Library and Information Science (LIS) programs in Mexico, Colombia, and Costa Rica. It also makes a brief account of the outcomes and lessons learned from these experiences, as reflected by those who were directly involved. These descriptions are presented in the context of their national quality assurance systems, with their respective accreditation regulations, frameworks, procedures, and models.

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Correspondence to Mónica Arakaki .

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Appendices

Appendix 1: LIS Programs in Mexico

Associate’s degree

 

HEI

Academic program

1

National School of Library and Archival Science (ENBA)

Library Science (5 semesters)

Bachelor’s degree

 

HEI

School

Academic program

1

Autonomous University of Chiapas (UNACH)

Faculty of Humanities

Library Science and Information Management (9 semesters)

2

Autonomous University of Chihuahua (UACH)

Faculty of Philosophy and Letters

Information Science (9 semesters)

3

Autonomous University of Mexico State (UAEMex)

Faculty of Humanities

Documentary Information Sciences (10 semesters)

4

Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon (UANL)

Faculty of Philosophy and Letters

Library and Information Science (10 semesters)

5

Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi (UASLP)

School of Information Science

Library and Information Studies (8 semesters)

6

National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)

Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, College of Librarianship

Library and Information Studies (8 semesters)

7

National School of Library and Archival Science (ENBA)

Library Science (9 semesters)

Master’s degree

 

HEI

School

Academic program

1

Autonomous University of Chihuahua (UACH)

Faculty of Philosophy and Letters

Library and Information Science (4 semesters, full-time)

2

National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)

Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, College of Librarianship

Library and Information Studies (4 semesters, full-time)

3

The College of Mexico

 

Library Science (4 semesters, full-time)

Doctoral degree

 

HEI

School

Academic program

1

National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)

Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, College of Librarianship

Library and Information Studies (8 semesters, full-time)

Appendix 2: LIS Programs in Colombia

Bachelor’s degree

 

HEI

School

Academic program

1

Pontifical Javeriana University (PUJ)

Faculty of Communication and Languages

Information Science—Librarianship (10 semesters)

2

University of Antioquia (UDEA)

Inter-American School of Library Science

Library Science (8 semesters)

3

University of La Salle (ULSalle)

Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences

Information and Documentation Systems (10 semesters)

4

University of Quindio

Faculty of Human Sciences and Fine Arts

Information Science, Documentation, Library and Archive Science (10 semesters, online)

Appendix 3: LIS Programs in Costa Rica

Intermediate Bachelor’s degree

 

HEI

School

Academic program

1

Autonomous University of Central America (UACA)

Faculty of Human Sciences, School of Librarianship

Librarianship (4 years)

2

National University of Costa Rica (UNACR)

Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, School of Librarianship, Documentation and Information

Librarianship and Documentation (4 years), with emphasis on:

• Information management, or

• Information and communication technologies

3

University of Costa Rica (UCR)

Faculty of Education, School of Library and Information Science

Librarianship (4 years), with emphasis on:

• Information Science, or

• Educational Libraries

Bachelor’s degree

 

HEI

School

Academic program

1

National University of Costa Rica (UNACR)

Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, School of Librarianship, Documentation and Information

Librarianship and Documentation (6 years), with emphasis on:

• Information management, or

• Information and communication technologies

2

University of Costa Rica (UCR)

Faculty of Education, School of Library and Information Science

Library and Information Science (6 years)

3

State University of Distance Education (UNED)

School of Social Sciences and Humanities

Librarianship, educational libraries and learning resources centers (6 years)

Librarianship and information and communication technologies (6 years)

Master’s degree

 

HEI

School

Academic program

1

University of Costa Rica (UCR)

Faculty of Education, School of Library and Information Science

Library and Information Studies

Appendix 4: Quality Assurance Organizations

Quality assurance organizations and programs in Mexico

ACCECISO

Association for the Accreditation and Certification in Social Sciences

ANUIES

National Association of Universities and Higher Education Institutions

CENEVAL

National Center for Evaluation in Higher Education

CIEES

Inter-institutional Committees for Evaluation in Higher Education

COAPEHUM

Council for the Accreditation of Academic Programs in Humanities

CONACYT

National Council for Science and Technology

COPAES

Council for the Accreditation of Higher Education

PNPC

National Program for Quality Graduate Studies

SEP

Ministry of Public Education

SNI

National System of Researchers

Quality assurance organizations and information systems in Colombia

CESU

National Council of Higher Education

CNA

National Council of Accreditation

CONACES

National Commission of Quality Assurance in Higher Education

SACES

Quality Assurance System in Higher Education

SNA

National System of Accreditation

SNIES

National Information System on Higher Education

Quality assurance organizations in Costa Rica

CONARE

National Council of Rectors

SINAES

National System of Accreditation in Higher Education

SUPRICORI

Accreditation System of the Private Higher Education Teaching in Costa Rica

UNIRE

Unit of Private Universities Rectors of Costa Rica

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Arakaki, M. (2015). Accreditation Processes in Latin America: An Exploration into the Cases of Library and Information Science (LIS) Programs in Mexico, Colombia, and Costa Rica. In: Miwa, M., Miyahara, S. (eds) Quality Assurance in LIS Education. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6495-2_13

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