The Production of Knowledge during the 4th Industrial Revolution: A Mexican Case Study

Abstract

Higher education institutions play a critical role in research, innovation, and the production of knowledge, all of which are hallmarks of the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR). To avoid continuing at a disadvantage, countries utilize policies that facilitate the generation of knowledge and, as a result, have an impact on the country's development. In this context, we look for understanding how the production of knowledge policies are implemented in a public Mexican university in the period from 2018 to 2021. For this study, a case study and documentary research were used. The results indicate that there is a policy framework that promotes research, innovation and teaching according to the 4IR; however, a closer look at the persons in charge of the production reveals that some researchers produce recognized knowledge while others, with the lower academic training, lack any production.