Intercultural education in higher education institutions from El Salvador

Abstract

Multiculturalism has been related to the diversity in which ethnic and cultural minorities or migrants are identified. However, the idea of cultural diversity is broader than that. Diversity is related to several fields, among which are: national cultures, socioeconomic status, generational aspects, religious denominations, political ideologies, gender, special abilities, academic levels, sexual orientations, among others. Intercultural education promotes relationships based on respect and recognition of differences. It intends to adjust individual rights and liberties in social coexistence and promotes an equitable interaction between different cultures, allowing the emergence of shared cultural expressions, which can be created within a relationship of mutual respect. At this point in the 21st century, it is necessary to analyze the importance of intercultural education in higher education institutions, especially thinking about the responsibility of training graduates with skills that help them, both in the insertion into the labor world and for life. In other words, the responsibility of HEIs is to train more comprehensive and tolerant professionals open to working and living with people from different cultures. The objective of the article is to systematize the relevant concepts related to interculturality and intercultural education, in the context of Salvadoran Higher Education Institutions in the last 10 years.