How Long Should University Degree Programs Last?

Abstract

In recent weeks, the debate over how long university degree programs should last has been revived. The discussion is not new; it already arose during President Bachelet's first administration and during the Beyer era (Harald Beyer's tenure as Minister of Education). It is striking, however, that mistaken arguments are systematically put forward to promote the reform. It is said that the university system is expensive, that the actual duration of degree programs is very long, and that many students leave university without obtaining a degree. This is where the mistakes begin, since expensive is not synonymous with effective, actual duration has nothing to do with nominal duration, and the fact that students drop out has nothing to do with programs being long. Continue reading...