Experiences and challenges of guarijío students at the Universidad Autónoma Indígena de México

Abstract

This research aims to analyze the challenges faced by guarijío students when entering and remaining at the Universidad Autónoma Indígena de México (UAIM). Through a qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews conducted with ten students and two faculty members, various issues were identified that hinder the academic trajectory of guarijío students. Among the main challenges are precarious economic conditions, limited support infrastructure, the geographical distance between their home communities and the university, as well as cultural and linguistic discrimination. However, the testimonies also reveal strategies of resistance and resilience developed by the students themselves, such as family support, community organization, and the creation of solidarity networks within the university environment. The findings suggest that, despite adversity, the presence of guarijío students at UAIM represents an act of collective agency that challenges the persistent structures of exclusion in higher education. In conclusion, the study highlights the need to implement public policies aimed at equity, such as access to scholarships, academic support programs, and the incorporation of intercultural approaches into curricula, in order to ensure a more inclusive, relevant, and transformative higher education for Indigenous peoples in Mexico.