STUDENT MIGRATION IN LATIN AMERICA AS A SOCIAL PHENOMENON IN TRANSFORMATION

Abstract

Student migration in Latin America has undergone profound transformations over the past decade, shifting from a voluntary academic strategy to a complex phenomenon linked to multiple structural crises. Traditionally, student mobility was driven by the pursuit of postgraduate training opportunities, motivated by the unequal distribution of academic offerings and the varying quality of educational systems across the region. However, this pattern has evolved into a form of forced mobility, where education becomes intertwined with the urgency to escape contexts marked by violence, institutional collapse, extreme poverty, and sociopolitical instability. This new migratory profile suggests that many young people no longer migrate solely for academic reasons, but as a response to unsustainable living conditions. Such a situation poses ethical and political challenges for host countries, which must ensure equitable access to education as a universal human right, recognize prior educational trajectories, and promote intercultural inclusion. This essay aims to statistically describe this phenomenon over the past ten years, identifying its main causes and consequences. Through a specialized literature review, it will analyze student migration trends, the driving factors behind them, and their implications for Latin American educational systems. This approach seeks to shed light on a growing issue, provide elements for its critical understanding, and contribute to the formulation of public policies that dignify the migratory experience of students in vulnerable contexts.