Indigenous Students and University: realities and challenges to cultural diversity. The case of National University of Salta

Abstract

The present article identifies, on the one hand, speeches and actions deployed by National University of Salta in order to favour the processes of social and educational inclusion of indigenous students that are self-recognized in the university, appealing to the analysis of its institutional policy and others initiatives (programs or projects) developed, to attend and promote cultural diversity. On the other hand, some students’ appreciations regarding to the university’s ethnic approach and its weaknesses and strengths are recovered.

The research from which this article derives, supposed a methodological design fundamentally qualitative, appealing also to quantitative descriptions linked to social, demographic and cultural profiles. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to provide information on institutional, psychosocial and ethnic aspects. Also, qualitative tools were included: lexicometric analysis and free association of words around central nuclei. Key informants and secondary sources of data were also consulted to enrich the survey and address these topics. The findings made it possible to note the growing presence of indigenous students at National University of Salta and their needs, an interest and commitment from institutional groups to develop strategies to promote indigenous students’ access and permanence at the institution, as well as the progressive sensitization that this problematic has deserved in academic environments. Despite of this, there is still a long way to go in terms of proposals for attention to cultural diversity in order to really include indigenous students at universities.