HIGHER EDUCATION AND THE GEOPOLITICS OF KNOWLEDGE: The Social Role of the University

These paragraphs contain some notes on the historical dimension of the university and what could be called in general terms, its social role. The subject, of course, is not new. It is as old as the university itself. But some interesting facets could be discovered if, knowing that the answers could be old, they might look better if we ask new questions. The Universidad Andina Simon Bolivar, Sede Ecuador, was created at the end of the 20th century as a sui generis center that must assume knowledge 'from below'. Here we have worked since the nineties in international programs whose axis is the view from the south of the world. And we have done it inclose relation with social movements, which have a central place in our academic activity. With this background of collective practice and with some experience of having participated in several debates on the history and mission of our Latin American university, I present some ideas about the role of higher centers in world history and inLatin America.