Articulation between secondary and higher education: Challenges and results in the region of Nariño

This article is the result of a study on the relevance and quality of articulation processes between secondary and higher education in Nariño, Colombia. A mixed-method approach was used, employing both statistical methods and qualitative analysis to understand managers', teachers', and students' perceptions of educational articulation. In a non-experimental, cross-sectional design, data were collected at a single point in time, with no intentional manipulation of variables, observing the processes as they occurred in their natural academic context. The study analysed the articulation processes based on propaedeutic cycles, the public policies of the Ministerio de Educación Nacional of Colombia and the inter-institutional experiences that link secondary education with technical and vocational training programmes. Through this analysis, the motivations and educational interests of the students were identified, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the articulation programmes. It was concluded that articulation between educational levels is essential to improve the transition of students to higher education, but the need to review and adapt the curricula of educational programmes to align them with the demands of the labour market and regional realities was highlighted. Furthermore, the lack of a consolidated governmental strategy was highlighted, which limits the impact of these policies at the local level. It is suggested that inter-institutional strategies should be deepened and teacher training strengthened in order to improve the quality of the educational articulation process in the future.