Indigenous Tertiary Education and Development: How Unidad Académica Campesina – Carmen Pampa Contributes to Rural Bolivians

Abstract

Education is an important and high-return investment in development since it contributes to improving human capital and human development for a stronger society. The effort to educate indigenous populations is transformational in development. Furthermore, tertiary education offers high intrinsic and external value. Unidad Académica Campesina – Carmen Pampa (UAC) is a Bolivian college serving the rural, impoverished population outside La Paz. Its mission is centered on education, research and outreach, so graduates may contribute to the development of the rural region mostly in the province of La Paz. This paper examines the importance of indigenous tertiary education in Bolivia and UAC‘s contribution to expanding possibilities and freedoms for rural Bolivians; UAC not only helps explain the economic growth but also the human development of those served. This paper also offers next steps for UAC through examining its alumni survey.