Educación superior, interculturalidad y jóvenes indígenas en Michoacán: Un estudio diagnóstico sobre los factores que influyen en la vida universitaria

Abstract

The present paper resumes a qualitative analysis of the expectations and difficulties regarding the entry and permanence in higher education that indigenous youth from four purhepecha communities in Michoacan, Mexico perceive. A qualitative research was carried out 30 semi-structured interviews and four focus groups with young high school students were applied. Also, eight interviews with teachers adn community leaders. The main concerns are the family socioeconomic situation, as well as the existing tensions between personal and community expectations, where gender appears as an important category. On the other hand, university education is linked to social mobility, the possibility of autonomy in decisión-making and the posible anguish and discomfort of leaving the family and living differently when leaving the community is recognized.

Keywords

• school career
• youth
• student expectations
• interculturality
• upper secondary education.