Accreditation processes in Latin America: An exploration into the cases of library and information science (LIS) programs in Mexico, Colombia, and Costa Rica

Quality assurance in higher education has become a major concern in most Latin American countries, due to the proliferation of higher education institutions, prominently in the private sector. In this regard, governmental and nongovernmental organizations have implemented valuable initiatives and projects, at national and regional levels, and some countries exhibit well-developed quality assurance systems (Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Colombia, and Costa Rica). However, very few cases of quality assurance in the particular field of LIS education have been documented in the region. This article describes the accreditation processes of Library and Information Science (LIS) programs in Mexico, Colombia, and Costa Rica. It also makes a brief account of the outcomes and lessons learned from these experiences, as reflected by those who were directly involved. These descriptions are presented in the context of their national quality assurance systems, with their respective accreditation regulations, frameworks, procedures, and models.