FOLLOW-UP STUDIES OF GRADUATES. A VIEW FROM THE LATIN AMERICAN CONTEXT

Abstract

One of the characteristics of the productive and industrial processes is its constant updating that promotes significant changes including: raising the level of complexity of activities, new forms of work organization, labor flexibility, continuous diversification of jobs, the decentralization process and the rapid obsolescence of technologies. Follow-up studies of graduate are an alternative to understand the relationship between vocational training and the world of work, as well as the satisfaction of internal and external demands, meaning that they cover the individual, collective, institutional and social needs. However, in order to fulfill this task at present, the traditional approach follow-up studies of graduates have had, focusing on work success and job conditions, must be replaced by one that considers the characteristics of the world of work, where all the elements that help to develop citizenship and the contribution of the individual as part of society have a place. Moreover, to the extent that vocational training obtained at universities is not enough for a lifetime, due to the loss of validity of knowledge in higher education, it is necessary that professionals get ready to learn throughout life and follow-up studies of graduates is a valuable tool for guiding the updating of generic and specific skills.