University plan for indigenous peoples: participatory construction experience of Universidad Nacional

Abstract

This essay aims to contribute to the discussion around the construction of more inclusive and intercultural universities, from the systematization of the strategy adopted by Universidad National (UNA) in Costa Rica for the pertinent implementation of the Quinquennial Plan for Indigenous Peoples (PPIQ) signed by four of the Costa Rican public universities in 2014. Its implementation took differentiated characteristics in each university, due to the diversity historically built among them in the construction of relations with indigenous peoples and in the forms of academic and administrative management, which require a singular adaptation in each University of the PPIQ joint agreements. In the case of UNA, the execution of the Plan and the fulfillment of its commitments is based on the proactive participation of each instance involved base on their experiences and possibilities. Thus, the former coordination team of PPIQ was extended to absorb the different actors, each one of them propose and execute activities from their organizational structure. In addition, the inclusion of indigenous university students in the planning, formulation, execution and monitoring of actions and commitments has been vital, becoming an essential actor for its successful execution and for its continuity in the future. This participation also contributed with the strengthening of identity aspects in them as indigenous people and as university students. These open and participatory model has allowed us to have important results in a short time; allowing the University to incorporated actions and goals of the Plan in permanent work strategies of different instances.

Keywords

• población indígena
• acceso a la educación
• enseñanza superior
• gestión educacional
• estudiante universitario
• participación estudiantil