Teaching Differences

The first university we visited was the Pontifica Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso. We interacted with professors and students at the university. This university is the oldest Chilean university and is currently listed in the top six universities. There are 15,000 students at the university. In Chile, about 50% of the population ages 18-24 are studying at a university. Although it changes a bit amonst each program, the university is about about 55% male and 45% female students.

The university is beginning to implement international aspects to its programs. Currently, they have about 700 international students. PUCV was one of the first universities in Chile to send its students internationally. They currently send about 150 students to study for 1-2 semesters in another country.

One of the professors who lectured us explained that the American education system is very AngloSaxon, while the Chilean system is more Napoleonic. Students begin a professional career focus from the very beginning at the age of 18. With this comes a large amount of stress and responsibility from an early age. He explained this may be a factor in the large amount of college dropouts.

Along with being intensely career focused, the students are very individualistic. One professor gave the example that although his door is often open, few students come by to ask questions and get help. They'd rather work on problems and figure them out on their own.

There is a high dropout rate amongst the college students. Many students are expelled based on academics. A college graudate earns about $15,000 a month vs $400 a month for a nongraduate.

While we were at the university, I looked around the room and found that a student had written on the desk that I was sitting at. I thought this was funny, and actually pretty interesting. It made me think about my own schooling, and see the students at this campus as more like me than I may have thought initally. I came to the Pontifica Universidad Catolica de Valporaiso visit wondering about how the students were different than me. I realized at this moment, that although we speak different languages and have different backgrounds, we really are quite alike. We have similar interests, and we are living in the same dynamic world with similar pressures from school, family, career, and a calling future ahead.

We also visited a university in Peru. While visiting the country, I learned that most of the universities in the country are privately owned. There is stiff competition to get into the public university. Spots are determined by testing--the highest scores in each batch of tests is received into the university. I found it very intesting to learn that many people attend the university, but there is low job placement. There are a large amount of doctors and lawyers who end up driving taxis through the city. I think it's so unfortunate and frustrating that so many people get an education, but even after graduating, their opportunities are limited by inefficient institutions and regulations within their country.