Letter to the International University Community and UNESCO

GRASSROOTS HIGHER EDUCATION DEMANDS TO BE THE PROTAGONIST OF INTERNATIONAL DECISION-MAKING ON UNIVERSITIES

The Covid-19 pandemic has deepened social inequalities, which has had a profound impact on education. Millions of students have been expelled to the periphery of school systems due to the neo-privatization model that occurred during the educational quarantine. Technology transnationals  have been the main winners of the current  virtual teaching model.

Universities are institutions for the generation of knowledge, research and critical thinking for and with the popular sectors, therefore, the destiny of the university is closely linked to that of the humble and disinherited of the earth, to the inhabitants of low and middle income countries.

The pandemic has meant serious problems for the popular sectors' access to university education. The privatization that occurred during the pandemic has been expressed in the transfer of obligations of the States to guarantee the basic conditions for the development of teaching and learning processes. Not all families can pay the costs of internet connection or virtual computers or platforms. Education during the pandemic deepened its merchandization.

Development banks have been questioning the professional training carried out in universities while promoting educational disinvestment from nation states. They build a negative image of face-to-face university education as a support for the deepening of privatization and commercialization.

During the pandemic, multilateralism and international organizations dedicated to education had little capacity to generate alternatives to the economic model of capital and, on the contrary, they have been increasingly subject to the designs of corporations.

Certainly the university must be radically transformed, but this change is a matter of the university world and society, not of the large banks of transnational capital and a multilateralism tied to their designs.

From the point of view of educational centers themselves , during the pandemic in university education, has been highlighted the need to open a broad agenda of debates that takes into account the expectations and requirements of the sector; this effort here is part of it. Face-to-face higher education is threatened by the growing role of capital in determining its strategic objectives and this affects the possibilities of both  sons and daughters of the working class, as well as those of the professional middle class to access knowledge, know-how, culture and science.

University education has had a strong commitment to social transformation. Along this path, it has been a place of resistance to the neoliberal economic thought promoted by corporations, development banks and this generates the rejection of sectors of multilateralism committed to the reproduction of the domination model.

In this context, we celebrate UNESCO's decision to convene the World Conference on Higher Education in Barcelona, ​​Spain, from May 18 to 20, 2022, but we observe with concern the orientation of the Institute of Higher Education for Latin America and the Caribbean ( IESALC), the engine of this event, which is giving a central role to the Inter-American Development Bank, the World Bank, corporations and development banks in general, while closing paths of dialogue with grassroots union organizations in the university sector, critical academia and the students’ movement, which have resisted precisely the attacks of capital against education. UNESCO seems to be betting on a superstructural CMES that conjures up the presence of critical thinking and makes it possible to deepen neoliberal policies in the sector.

This orientation seems highly dangerous to us, and therefore we need to  call for the creation of an autonomous space for university consultation and dialogue that work to construct a realistic agenda for debates for submission to international society. Space that aspires to be able to interact and build consensus with the CMES organizing team. This space will be organized in a virtual way through the platform of Other Voices in Education and will have local face-to-face meetings.

Of course, we hope that UNESCO rectifies, otherwise we will be forced to promote an International Conference on Higher Education that will be developed as a Counter Summit of the Peoples against the assault of capital on the strategic orientation of university education.

Those interested in joining this global initiative can send an email to contacto.cies2022@gmail.com

In the next few days we will announce the formation of the international strategic team and the work route to CIES.

 THE FATE OF HIGHER EDUCATION IS A MATTER FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS, NOT FOR CORPORATIONS, BANKS AND MULTILATERALISM CLOSED TO GRASSROOTS PARTICIPATION !!!!

Suscriben
Luis Bonilla-Molina Centro de Inv. Otras Voces en Educación. Venezuela/Panamá/México
Claudia Baigorria CONADU-Histórica Argentina
Osvaldo Coggiola Universidad de San Pablo Brasil
Luis Tiscornia CONADU-Histórica Argentina
Clara Camps Calvet Universitat de Barcelona España
Ángel Rodríguez APPU Puerto Rico
Central de Trabajadores y Trabajadoras de Argentina -Autónoma Argentina
Myriam Barahona FNFUCH Chile
José Cambra ASOPROF-Univ. de Panamá Panamá
Luis Bueno CNSUESIC México
Trino Barrantes Profesor de la Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica
Henry Giroux Pedagogo crítico Canadá
Luz Palomino Otras Voces en Educación Venezuela
Peter McLaren Docente de la Universidad de Chapman EEUU
Asociación de Académicos de la Universidad de Chile (Acauch) Chile
Luis Hernández N. Docente / Director Editorial La Jornada México
Fernando Lázaro Profesor de la Universidad de Luján Argentina
Jurjo Torres Santomé Universidad A Coruña España
Julio Gambina Profesor Titular Universidad Nacional de Rosario Argentina
Rose Mary Hernández Docente de la UNERG Venezuela
Vicent Mauri STEPV – Intersindical Valenciana España
Rosa Cañadel Profesora Universitaria España
Daniel Libreros Profesor de la Universidad Nacional Colombia
COAD Gremio de docentes e investigadores de la UNR Argentina
Wilson Torres Presidente de la Federación de Profesores Universitarios y Politécnicos de Ecuador
Carolina Jiménez Profesora de la Universidad Nacional Colombia
Fabiana Amorín D.E.P.E Unión Nacional de Estudiantes Brasil
Eric Toussaint Universidad de Liege y París VIII Bélgica/Francia
Laura Isabel Vargas Presidenta de la UNE Ecuador
Asociación Sindical de Profesores(as) Universitarios, Seccional ASPU-UPN Colombia
Alfredo Velásquez SUTEP Perú
Olmedo Beluche Centro de Investigaciones de Humanidades (CIFHU) Panamá
Xavier Diez Grupo de Investigación InterUniversitario España
Marco Raúl Mejía Universidad de la Tierra Colombia
Giovanny Beluche Coordinador del Programa de Humanidades UTN Costa Rica
Hugo Aboites Profesor Investigador Univ. Autónoma Metropolitana México
Leonor Inés Peper Presidenta ACAUCH Chile
Juan Bernardo Borjas Secretario Ejecutivo de la Federación de Profesores Universitarios y Politécnicos de Ecuador
María Regina de Ávila Docente de UFSC / Sec. General ANDES Brasil
Eblin Farage Universidade Federal Fluminense Brasil
Adriana López C. Universidad Distrital Colombia
Benjamín Berlanga Universidad Indígena Campesina en Red México
Oscar Jara Holliday Centro de Estudios y Publicaciones Alforja Costa Rica
Leonor Galindo C. Profesora Titular Universidad de Antioquia Colombia
Soledad Falabella Vice-Presidenta de la ACAUCH Chile
Carlos Calvo Muñoz Universidad de la Serena (r) Chile
Gustavo A. Torres L. Coordinador de Comunicaciones ASPU-UPN Colombia
Pedro Feltrín Dirección de Unión de Estudiantes de Secundaria Brasil
Omar Hurtado R. Profesor jubilado de la UPEL Venezuela
Miguel Urrutia Tesorero de la ACAUCH Chile
Piedad Ortega Valencia Universidad Pedagógica Nacional Colombia
Fernando Gómez Universidad Nacional de Rosario Argentina
Jorge Martínez Director ACAUCH Chile
Carmen E. Fonseca Fiscal ASPU-UPN Colombia
Mari Luz González STEs Intersindical España
Jhony Alarcón Fuentes Universidad del Zulia Venezuela
Rodrigo Cornejo Profesor Asociado Universidad de Chile Chile
Xavier Giró Martí ExProfesor de la Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona España
Rodrigo Sepúlveda Secretario de la ACAUCH Chile
Fernando Abrego Secretario General de ASOPROF Panamá
José M. González Suplente Directiva ASPU-UPN Colombia
Luis Damiani Instituto de Investigación y Postgrado de la Magistratura Venezuela
Roberto Fragomeno C. Escuela Filosofía Universidad de Costa Rica Costa Rica
Miguel Alberto G. Universidad de Manizales Colombia
Carolina Higuita R. Universidad Estadual Paulista “JMF” Río Claro – Brasil
Esperanza Paredes Ex Rectora Universidad de Pamplona Colombia
Mesa Amplia Nacional de Profesores y Profesoras en Defensa de la Univ. Pública /Colombia
Lino Morán Universidad del Zulia Venezuela
Leopoldo Munera Universidad Nacional Colombia
Piedad Ortega V. Profesora de la UPN Colombia
Luis A. González Universidad de El Salvador El Salvador
Sara Y. Fernández M. Feminista Profesora Universidad de Antioquia Colombia
Fabiola Bernal Fundación Pedagogía Nuestramérica Costa Rica
Nicolás Londoño CINDE -Manizales Colombia
Carlos A. Bracho L. CESYC – Universidad Bolivariana de Venezuela (UBV) Venezuela
Patricia Sierra Universidad Nacional Colombia
Roberto López Sánchez Universidad del Zulia Venezuela
Liliana Chaparro Vicepresidenta ASPU-UPN Colombia
Kerlys Moreno Universidad del Zulia Venezuela
Jorge Conte Guerra Académico d ela UTN Costa Rica
Mary Cruz Castro Q. Univalle Colombia
Pilar Lizarraga Comunidad de estudios Jaina-Bolivia Bolivia
Pedro Morales Tesorero ASPU-UPN Colombia
César Leandro Marín Profesor de Humanidades UTN Costa Rica
Jorge Gantiva Universidad de Tolima Colombia
Oscar Huaranga Universidad Nacional “Hermilio Valdizán” Perú
Nelson López Universidad SurColombiana Colombia
Stella Machicano Comunidad de Estudios Jaina-Bolivia Bolivia
Héctor Fabio Ospina Académico de la Universidad de Chile Chile
Eder W. Ortíz Medina Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira Colombia
Daniel Llano Universidad politécnica Salesiana Ecuador
Daniel García Peña Universidad Nacional Colombia
Inés Helena Muniz G. Investigadora Universidad Federal Fluminense Brasil
Gerardo Montoya Universidad de Antioquia Colombia
Ramona Suárez Piña Universidad del Zulia Venezuela
Luis A. Cuellar Mejías Catedrático Universidad del Cauca Colombia
Sandra Liliana Cuervo Universidad del País Vasco España
José Miguel Olave Universidad Católica de Oriente Colombia
Pablo Vommaro Universidad de Buenos Aires Argentina
Alfonso Torres Universidad Pedagógica Nacional (UPN) Colombia
Blanca Gallardo Universidad Católica de Oriente Colombia
Gina Méndez Profesora de CINDE Colombia
Andrés Lund Profesor de la UNAM y la UCIRed México
Jorge Jiménez Universidade Estadual Paulista"Julio de Mesquita Filho" Brasil
Carlos Noveroy C. Foro Chileno de Estudiantes Chile
Oseas Onofre Sección 22 de la CNTE México
Jeime M. Cortes S. Universidad Estadual Paulista Brasil
Héctor Manuel Soto S. Grupo de investigación Releduc de la USB Ecuador
Roberto Rosique Universidad Autónoma de Baja California México
Armando Zambrano UPTC Colombia
Nylsa Offir García Vera Universdidad Pedagógica Nacional Colombia
Hernandi Amador Universidad del Tolima Colombia
María Rosa Goldar Profesora Universidad Nacional de Cuyo Argentina
José Novoa Universidad Distrital “Francisco José de Caldas" Colombia
Gerardo Montoya Universidad de Antioquia Colombia
Luis D. Gómez M. Profesor Universidad Santo Tomás Colombia
Luis H. Rincón Bonilla Unicauca Colombia
Alfonso Tamayo Universidad Pedagógica Nacional Colombia
Iluska Salazar Universidad Nacional Experimental Simón Rodríguez Venezuela
Bernardo Barragán Profesor universitario de Antioquia Colombia
Claudio Katz Universidad de Buenos Aires Argentina
Sonia Farré i Fidalgo Profesora de secundaria España
M. Yadira Córdoba Profesora de la UCV Venezuela
Rubén Reinoso Ex representante ante UNESCO / Rector UNEXCA Venezuela
Julio Mosquera Docente de la Universidad Nac. Abierta Venezuela
Maruja Romero Profesora de la UNA Venezuela
Lermit Rose Puche Profesor de la UCV Venezuela
Alí Marcano Profesor y campesino Venezuela
Dioni M. Valladares Escuela PDVSA Región Oriente Venezuela
Edgar Guédez Universidad Politécnica Territorial Andrés Eloy Blanco Venezuela
Marina Toro UPEL Maracay Venezuela
José Gonzalo Gómez UPEL -IPB Venezuela
Ana Cristina Chávez Docente de la Universidad Bolivariana de Venezuela. Venezuela
Dubravska Torcatty Docente universitaria Venezuela
Arisela Medina Docente de la UNERG Venezuela
Jesús Rodríguez G. Docente de la UNEFM Venezuela
Mirna Solo Docente de la Universidad Nacional Exp. del Magisterio Venezuela
Abdiel Rodríguez R. Profesor de la Universidad de Panamá Panamá
Víctor M. Ramos Académico de la UNAH Costa Rica
Elisabete Burigo Universidade Federal do Río Grande do Sul Brasil
Lev Velásquez CNTE Sección XVIII México
César Valdovinos Universidad Pedagógica Nacional. Núcleo Zamora México
Verónica del CID Red Mesoamericana Alforja Guatemala
Eduardo Gonzalez Secretario General del Colegio de Profesores Chile
Gustavo Teres AMSAFE Argentina
Gonzalo Zabala Instituto Superior de Catequética México
Fernando Peñaranda Universodad de Antioquia Colombia
Oly Millán Universidad Central de Venezuela Venezuela
Raúl Gil Alliaume Docente del Consejo de Formación Docente ANEP Uruguay
María Elisa Salgado Secretaria General de SUTEBA Tigre Argentina
Alfredo Cáceres Secretario de Formación SUTEBA el Tigre Argentina
Luis Sánchez Secretario General de AEVE Panamá
Yesid González Asociación Distrital de Educadores – Bogotá Colombia
Horacio Valentín Secretario General de SIDUT Argentina
Débora Gribov Prof. Adjunta de la Universidad de la República de Uruguay (UDELAR)
Gregorio Mesa Cuadros Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Colombia
Lourdes de Uebáez CII-OVE Venezuela
Jaime Blandón Universidad Distrital Colombia
Alfonso Insuategui Grupo de Investigación Kavilando Colombia
Red Inter Universitaria por la paz REDIPAZ Colombia
Betty Durango Mujer, Pueblo – Magisterio CNTE Durango México
Magisterio por la educación Emancipadora y Comunitaria México
Gladis Maugua Universidad de los llanos Colombia
Fernando García C. Centro Universitario de México México
Nandy José García A. UNERMB Venezuela
Andrea Zilberzstain Docente de la Universidad de Luján Argentina
Ángel Oroño UNERMB Venezuela
Miguel Viloria UNERMB Venezuela
Dulvic Omaña UPTMA – Maracaibo Venezuela
Edwin Rosario UNERMB Venezuela
Peter Molina H. Universidad de los Andes Venezuela
Ezequiel Alfieri Docente de la Universidad Nacional de Luján Argentina
Julio José Quijada R. Docente de la UNERMB - Cabimas Venezuela
Edward Ian Govia O. Docente universitario jubilado Venezuela
Reinaldo Bolívar Centro de Saberes Africanos, Americanos y Caribeños Venezuela