Effectiveness of Public Policies in Ecuador on Access to Higher Education

Abstract

This research examines the impact and effectiveness of public policies in Ecuador following the Constitution and the Organic Law on Higher Education (LOES), focusing on access to higher education. It analyzes how these regulations seek to guarantee equity, quality, and inclusion in the university system, addressing inequalities that restrict the admission of many applicants. The constitutional regulations of 1998 and 2008 are reviewed and compared to identify disparities in access to higher education, and interviews are conducted with key actors. This approach makes it possible to identify advances in education as a fundamental right with equal opportunities and to evaluate access and scholarship processes. The methodology used is mixed; the legal regulations are analyzed qualitatively, and data from SENESCYT and interviews with education experts are incorporated quantitatively, revealing the effectiveness and limitations of the public policies implemented.