LA UNIVERSIDAD CHILENA EN EL CONTEXTO DEL CAPITALISMO ACADÉMICO Una interpretación sociohistórica

The objective of this research is to examine changes in the university concept in a largely private system of higher education, such as that of Chile. The focus of study was the intellectual and political debates held on the role of these institutions, starting at national independence in the 19th century until the present. The results show that an acceptance of universities' elitist nature is transitioning to a positive evaluation of the expansion of enrollment, due to its impact on the formation of human capital. The impact of academic capitalism has therefore led to an abandonment of the traditional conception of universities. It has been replaced by the idea of human capital and the transition from a system guided by a sole model to one in which diverse descriptions compete.