Challenges of intercultural university education in times of health contingency and the digital age

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the well-bei and health of the population and the economy on a global scale, also transforming the forms of human coexistence and social and economic practices. Education has been one of the activities most impacted by social distancing adopted as a fundamental health strategy, which has affected the quality and access to education at all levels, with greater emphasis on the most vulnerable population groups such as indigenous groups. The objective of the research is to know the expressions and experiences of the students of the Intercultural University of the state of Tabasco, Mexico (UIET), about the effect of the pandemic on the educational process in its distance modality, adopted as an emerging educational strategy to from the healthy distance measures imposed. The research approach is qualitative and hermeneutical in nature, based on the application of semi-structured interviews to 70 students of the seven degrees offered by the institution. This experience allowed us to interpret how they assume the health crisis, and the way in which it affected their academic and family life, as well as generate recommendations for the improvement of educational practice in emerging contexts.