Expansion of the higher education offer in Mexico and creation of public institutions from 2001-2012

Abstract

The article analyzes policies implemented during the Vicente Fox Quesada and Felipe Calderón Hinojosa administration to expand the offer of higher education for advanced technical degrees and university degrees, as well as variations of coverage in the different Mexican states and inequality. It reviews strategies shared by both administrations to create institutions with a technology focus (technological universities, polytechnic universities and technology institutes), in accordance with federalist policies that did drive the territorial decentralization of the offer, but gave rise to concerns as to the soundness of the planning processes for the expansion of the higher education system with a long term vision. It closes by identifying some of the challenges that arose at the beginning of the Enrique Peña Nieto administration.