Trajectory of the Intercultural University of the State of Puebla (UIEP in Spanish), Mexico

Abstract

This paper refers to the work carried out to provide a higher education option to the population that inhabits one of the representative cultural regions of Mexico: the Totonacapan. In this cultural area the Totonacs, Nahuas and the denominated non-indigenous coexist. The Intercultural University of the State of Puebla (UIEP in Spanish) has been established for all of them, which has ten years of road traveled. The purpose of this written communication is to explain the operation of the UIEP to start an analysis of how much the intercultural universities (UI) have managed to fulfill the purpose for which they were created in Mexico. The approach of the present study is made from the reflection and analysis of those who belong to the institution as full-time professors and researchers, which has been derived from the collegial work in which they have collaborated within this institution. The main findings are closely related to the three substantive or primordial functions of IUs: teaching, research and community engagement. It is concluded that the advances, contradictions, conflicts, as well as the prospects for the immediate future contribute to the growth and development of the institution as long as its educational function is not lost.