Abstract:
The Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated pre-existing problems in Latin America and posed unprecedented challenges for Latin American universities (LAU). These challenges can be characterised as complex problems that cannot be understood through reductionist approaches. This paper aims (i) to provide a complex system perspective of the challenges confronting LAUs and (ii) to propose guidelines for managers of LAUs to address them in practice. A multidisciplinary group was formed and conducted an iterative process of research, brainstorming and debate of potential solutions to the following problems considered particularly important by their universities: mental health issues in the university environment, student learning gaps, brain drain, and anti-science movements. Complexity theory and E/HF concepts are integrated to demonstrate that understanding what LAUs are experiencing in a fragmented manner is impossible, and that the interactions between the challenges should be at the centre of the managers\' actions plans. Practitioner summary: Managers of LAUs can benefit from the guidelines proposed to understand the pressing challenges confronting universities and develop systemic approaches to address them.
摘要:
新冠肺炎疫情加剧了拉丁美洲先前存在的问题,并给拉丁美洲的大学(LAU)带来了前所未有的挑战。这些挑战可以描述为复杂的问题,无法通过简化方法来理解。本文旨在(i)为LAU面临的挑战提供复杂的系统视角,以及(ii)为LAU的管理者在实践中解决这些问题提出指导方针。组成了一个多学科小组,进行了一个迭代的研究过程,头脑风暴和辩论的潜在解决方案,以解决他们的大学认为特别重要的以下问题:大学环境中的心理健康问题,学生学习差距,人才外流,和反科学运动。复杂性理论和E/HF概念被整合在一起,以证明理解LAU以支离破碎的方式正在经历什么是不可能的,挑战之间的互动应该是管理者行动计划的中心。从业者总结:LAU的管理人员可以从建议的指导方针中受益,以了解大学面临的紧迫挑战,并制定系统的方法来解决这些问题。