Influencia de la política educativa en las universidades indígenas: el caso de la Universidad del Pueblo Yaqui

Objective: To analyze the influence of educational policy on the higher level of indigenous colleges for a successful or unsuccessful instauration of a public policy. Methodology: Qualitative, reason to consider the case study method, the in-depth interviews with college directors and the participant observation. Results: During the University of the Yaqui People implementation, various stakeholders, such as leaders, academics, and public officials, played an important role: they contributed knowledge, strategic skills, and influence in power for enabling collaborative work to achieve the objectives proposed to establish the university. Limitations: The sample size is small, so generalizable findings are not obtained. Value: The importance of government support for the success of a university aimed at indigenous peoples is highlighted. Conclusions: The constant negotiation of interests, the interactions between different actors, and the ongoing debate have been essential to strengthening consensus on decision making for public policies and the support of actors and groups--interested on attending the Yaqui community’s problems--for the implementation of the Universidad del Pueblo Yaqui.