Impact of university autonomy on admission processes: evolution of the academic offer and analysis in the allocation of places at the Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí (2020-2024)

Abstract

This study analyzes the impact of university autonomyon the admissions processes at the Eloy Alfaro Lay University of Manabí (ULEAM) during the period 2020-2024, using a documentary, descriptive, and comparative approach. It examines the changes that occurred after the transition from a centralized quota management model, administered by the Secretariat of Higher Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation (SENESCYT), to an autonomous model managed directly by the university. The results show that while the autonomous process strengthened institutional relevance and freedom to choose a major, it also led to an increase in the number of unassigned places, especially in high-demand programs. The effectiveness of the allocation process declined by 99% in 2020-2022 and by 90% in 2023-2024, indicating the need to strengthen academicplanning and organization in relation to actual student demand.Through this, autonomywithin universities has allowed for greater flexibility and operational capacityin institutional response,but it requires strengthening procedures for equalityand competition to guarantee fair and sustainable access to higher education.