Life Trajectories and Higher Education Access for Chilean Indigenous Students

Mapuche Students in STEM and STEM-related Fields as Participants in Academic and Indigenous Cultures

Bibliographic Data

ID12763579
AuthorsMarta Alejandra Silva-Fernández (0000-0002-8323-3314, Austral University of Chile), Evelyn Vera (Austral University of Chile), Andrew Sigerson (0000-0002-3857-7214, Austral University of Chile, corresponding author), Paulina Constanza Sanzana-Müller (0000-0001-7609-606X, Austral University of Chile), Andrés Bianchetti Saavedra (0000-0002-6607-7380, Universidad Católica del Norte), Rosmery-Ann Boegeholz (0000-0001-6656-5176, Austral University of Chile)
Year2020
Volume22
Issue2
Pages767-784
Publication date2020-09-23
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Latinos and Education (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1532-771X • E-ISSN: 1534-8431
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/15348431.2020.1819810
OpenAlexW3089272514
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited29

Various studies have sought to understand factors affecting low university retention rates of indigenous students. However, little is known about students who successfully complete undergraduate programs in STEM fields. This investigation, utilizing the life history approach, analyzed academic trajectories of 11 Mapuche graduates or near-graduates from such programs in south-central Chile. The analysis showed that students who were successful in obtaining degrees had experienced early participation in communities that encouraged an academic culture. These were constituted by their families, teachers, and friends, and participation occurred throughout their lives as they successfully negotiated their identities as indigenous and academically talented students

Biology · Higher education · Indigenous · Indigenous culture · Pedagogy · Political science · Sociology · Education Systems and Policy · Indigenous and Place-Based Education · Indigenous Health, Education, and Rights · Psychology · Ecology

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