Regulation of university accreditation in South America during the COVID-19 pandemic: an exploratory review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71112/przd0n79Keywords:
University accreditation, Higher education quality, Higher education, Educational regulation, COVID-19Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted higher education systems, forcing adjustments in quality assurance processes across South America. The objective was to identify and describe the regulatory adjustments implemented in university accreditation during 2021–2022. A qualitative approach was applied through an exploratory literature review and documentary analysis of 47 sources selected based on thematic relevance and institutional validity. The results show adjustments focused on the flexibilization of administrative procedures, the implementation of evaluations in virtual environments, and the adaptation of evaluation criteria, as well as differences between countries in their application. It is concluded that accreditation systems adopted responses aimed at ensuring the operational continuity of evaluation processes, without implying structural transformations in regulatory frameworks, reflecting functional adaptation rather than systemic change.
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