Forging a Technocratic Elite in Colombia: A History of the Escuela Nacional de Minas of Medellin, 1887-1970 examines the history of an engineering school that has played an important role in the formation of a national bourgeoisie in Colombia. Besides civil and mining engineers, the Escuela produced leaders of industry and government--technocrates who have shaped the country's development in the twentieth century. It did so through a program which emphasized practical knowledge and above all, devotion to 'Progress'. Engineers were to be agents of Progress through their adhesion to the ethical virtues of hard work, honesty and integrity. This was the vision of founder Tulio Ospina Vasquez who implanted the program with a distinct, missionary-like identity. Indeed, during the first three decades of the twentieth century, the Escuela reflected the values and goals of the wealthy, politically ascendant elite to which Ospina belonged. Changes in the program over time reflected the impact of trends affecting both Colombian society and higher education: the growth of middle-class participation and nationalism as well as increasing reliance on U.S. culture and scientific knowledge. Nevertheless, the Escuela retained its essentially elitist orientation, one that fit in with the technocratic style and development strategy of the National Front and survived through the structural reforms overseen by Rector Peter Santamaria during the 1960s. In this sense, it embodies a unique case study of Colombian higher education overall / acase@tulane.edu
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:TULANE/oai:http://digitallibrary.tulane.edu/:tulane_24339 |
| Date | January 1990 |
| Contributors | Murray, Pamela Suzanne (Author) |
| Publisher | Tulane University |
| Source Sets | Tulane University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | Access requires a license to the Dissertations and Theses (ProQuest) database., Copyright is in accordance with U.S. Copyright law |
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