Políticas institucionales para favorecer el acceso y la permanencia en universidades argentinas: un análisis de cuatro instituciones del conurbano bonaerense

The aim of this article is to analyze the policies implemented by four Argentinian universities, located in the Great Buenos Aires area, in order to promote access and permanence during the admission process and in the first year of studies. It is assumed that institutional factors —including how teaching and learning processes, curriculum and student support strategies are organized— can play a key role in student retention. The analysis is based on secondary sources, as well as documents gathered in the four institutions and interviews conducted with authorities and coordinators of the admission courses. The achievements and limitations shown by the policies —with regard to the challenge of improving in terms of quality, pertinence and inclusion— raise the need to combine current measures of material and pedagogical support with a clearer focus on teaching and curriculum issues, through greater resources and closer work with teachers in the re-design of institutional strategies.