Inequalities in Access to Public Higher Education

Abstract

Universities are increasingly pivotal to the development of societies. Their commitment to opening doors for traditionally excluded segments of the population reflects a global effort to promote higher education aligned with the principles of social justice. Unfortunately, the inequalities in access to university education, with their deep-rooted origins and social implications, highlight a prolonged injustice entrenched in educational systems worldwide. The objective of this research is to identify the educational policies and institutional guidelines that influence access to the faculties of education at public universities in Colombia and Spain. To address this objective, a documentary analysis of the regulations governing access to two prominent public universities in Colombia and Spain was conducted. The findings reveal significant inequalities in access to higher education within both educational systems and characterize admission models that unveil multiple barriers preventing access, systematically excluding various sectors of society and contributing to the inequitable distribution of students across stratified educational institutions.