Competing Higher Education Paradigms in a Post-War Society: The Case of the Archbishop Oscar Romero University in El Salvador

Barbara D. AcostaThe George Washington University

The Monsignor Oscar Arnulfo Romero University

Francisco AcostaThe Monsignor Oscar Arnulfo Romero

University

bacosta@ceee.gwu.edu

EL SALVADORPopulation: 7,185,218 Residing in U.S.: ~1.1 millionGovernment: Republic

Mission

Inspired by the legacy of Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero, the university is committed to the development of harmony among persons, their community and their environment, and to the consolidation of participative democracy and the common good. The University is dedicated to the preparation of committed and highly qualified professionals and the generation of knowledge in service to the social transformation of northern El Salvador, the nation, and Central America.

History of the Archbishop Romero University

• Established in 1992, immediately after signing of peace accords

• Began operations with 200 students on a former battlefield in Chalatenango

• By 2011, 1300 students are enrolled in 5 different professional fields (education, law, computer science, business administration, and agriculture)

Four frames for analyzing organizations

Symbolic Political Human Structural

The future

• Both the university’s precarious state and its continuing survival can be attributed to the tenacity and fervor of its competing stakeholders.

bacosta@ceee.gwu.edu