Sociology of Education in Tourism: an Analysis of the Educational Offer Programs in Tourism in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico by the Lens of the Knowledge Sociology

Abstract

This article analyses postgraduate Tourism programs [masters and doctorate] in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico. The research is theoretically based on the sociology of knowledge, area that deals with the material conditions of production of scientific knowledge (Merton, 1974). In particular, the objective was to analyse the distribution of the educational offer in Tourism, at the postgraduate level, from its collective structures [university, bureaucracy, research groups], its characteristics and its functions, in order to identify which conditions these structures provide the scientific knowledge production process, based on the analysis of the subsystems of higher education in Tourism in each country. Methodologically, the research followed the mixed method, being quantitative and qualitative, conducted through a census of educational offer in tourism at postgraduate level in locus, from which derived a quantitative analysis on the structure and configuration [thematic areas, objectives, study plans, faculty, alumni profile, and research groups/projects] of these systems, followed by a qualitative analysis of course content [syllabus] itself. The results show to be recent creation of such an offer - the majority of programs have less than 10 years of existence. There is also a significant disproportionation in all countries in relation to the offer of graduation; besides being heterogeneous and its incipient knowledge production. Therefore, there are significant differences in education systems, policy orientations, and the objectives of educational institutions to define postgraduate Tourism education offerings differently in these countries.