This study aims to analyze the decline in student enrollment, admissions, and graduation rates at the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM) [1], with a particular focus on the Azcapotzalco campus (UAMA) and its Basic Sciences and Engineering Division (DCBI). The goal is to identify the root causes of these declines, assess their impact, and propose potential solutions. The study conducts a comprehensive analysis of data from UAM spanning the period before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The data includes the number of applicants, admitted students, and graduates from 2017 to 2023, both for the university as a whole and specifically for the DCBI. In addition, the study examines historical records, institutional reports, and relevant external factors that may have influenced these trends. The research methodology also includes a qualitative assessment of internal and external factors affecting UAM, such as administrative decisions, labor issues, and the impact of the pandemic. The analysis reveals a significant decline in the number of applicants, admitted students, and graduates at UAM, particularly at the UAMA campus and within the DCBI. For instance, at UAMA, the number of applicants dropped from 28,682 in 2017 to 21,525 in 2023, while admitted students decreased from 4,874 in 2019 to 4,023 in 2023. In the DCBI, applicants decreased from 11,100 in 2018 to 7,043 in 2023, with a corresponding decline in admitted students from 1,842 in 2018 to 1,574 in 2023, and in graduates from 679 in 2018 to 442 in 2022 [2]. These declines are juxtaposed against the backdrop of Mexico’s national goal to increase higher education coverage, particularly in fields like engineering. The study identifies several critical factors contributing to the decline in student numbers at UAM, particularly at the UAMA campus. These include administrative challenges such as the absence of a rector from 2017 to 2019, labor disputes including the 92-day strike in 2019, and reputational damage due to poorly handled incidents like the 2023 female students strike. Additionally, the pandemic and its economic fallout, including job losses and a shift to remote learning, have exacerbated these issues. The study concludes that while some challenges are external, the persistence of these problems suggests significant internal issues within UAM’s administration. The failure to address these causes has led to a prolonged decline in key academic metrics. The paper proposes several solutions aimed at addressing these issues, including administrative reforms, increased support for faculty and students, and improved crisis management strategies.

References:
[1] Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, 4 July, 2024. Retrieved from www.uam.mx
[2] UAM, Anuario estadístico 2022, 4 July, 2024. Retrieved from https://transparencia.uam.mx/inforganos/anuarios/index.html

Keywords: Education, quality, strikes, salaries