Labor and Professional Accessibility in Chilean Higher Education: Toward Inclusive Legislation for Academic Staff with Disabilities

Diego Bernaschina

doi:10.55993/hegp.1691735

Labor and Professional Accessibility in Chilean Higher Education: Toward Inclusive Legislation for Academic Staff with Disabilities

Abstract

This article presents a proposal for a preliminary theoretical and empirical study on the problems with current laws that exclude professionals with disabilities from academic and research careers in Chilean higher education institutions. The general objective is to investigate the legal and institutional frameworks affecting the inclusion and professional development of academic staff with disabilities in Chilean universities in order to identify structural barriers and propose reforms that promote an inclusive and equitable model at the national level, aligned with international best practices in accessibility and professional integration. Although the study uses an exclusively qualitative methodological approach based on documentary analysis, thematic conceptual mapping, and comparative legal review, which allows for the examination of both labor inclusion and Chilean education policy, effective judicial system, and cognitive accessibility and equity for professionals with disabilities within the higher education system are not guaranteed. This study combines a theoretical framework based on inclusive education, the rights of persons with disabilities, and governance with empirical data from transparency reports and legal analyses. The research proposes urgent legal reforms to replace the current 2% labor quota with a mandate requiring a minimum hiring quota of 4% for each academic faculty and research center; extend inclusive hiring obligations to include early childhood and school education; and establish an Inclusive Certification Seal along with institutional protocols to monitor and promote inclusive academic policies. These measures align with international best practices and seek to foster an equitable and democratic higher education system.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

No funding was received from any institution or organization for this study.

Ethical Statement

This study is an original article conducted with document analysis; thereby, no requirement for ethical approval process.

Thanks

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Internationalization in Higher Education

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Diego Bernaschina ^*
0000-0002-3317-8580
Chile

Publication Date

December 31, 2025

Submission Date

May 5, 2025

Acceptance Date

August 12, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 6 Number: 2

DOI

https://doi.org/10.55993/hegp.1691735

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA69NP86SS

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Bernaschina, D. (2025). Labor and Professional Accessibility in Chilean Higher Education: Toward Inclusive Legislation for Academic Staff with Disabilities. Higher Education Governance and Policy, 6(2), 87-100. https://doi.org/10.55993/hegp.1691735

AMA

1.Bernaschina D. Labor and Professional Accessibility in Chilean Higher Education: Toward Inclusive Legislation for Academic Staff with Disabilities. HEGP. 2025;6(2):87-100. doi:10.55993/hegp.1691735

Chicago

Bernaschina, Diego. 2025. “Labor and Professional Accessibility in Chilean Higher Education: Toward Inclusive Legislation for Academic Staff With Disabilities”. Higher Education Governance and Policy 6 (2): 87-100. https://doi.org/10.55993/hegp.1691735.

EndNote

Bernaschina D (December 1, 2025) Labor and Professional Accessibility in Chilean Higher Education: Toward Inclusive Legislation for Academic Staff with Disabilities. Higher Education Governance and Policy 6 2 87–100.

IEEE

[1]D. Bernaschina, “Labor and Professional Accessibility in Chilean Higher Education: Toward Inclusive Legislation for Academic Staff with Disabilities”, HEGP, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 87–100, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.55993/hegp.1691735.

ISNAD

Bernaschina, Diego. “Labor and Professional Accessibility in Chilean Higher Education: Toward Inclusive Legislation for Academic Staff With Disabilities”. Higher Education Governance and Policy 6/2 (December 1, 2025): 87-100. https://doi.org/10.55993/hegp.1691735.

JAMA

1.Bernaschina D. Labor and Professional Accessibility in Chilean Higher Education: Toward Inclusive Legislation for Academic Staff with Disabilities. HEGP. 2025;6:87–100.

MLA

Bernaschina, Diego. “Labor and Professional Accessibility in Chilean Higher Education: Toward Inclusive Legislation for Academic Staff With Disabilities”. Higher Education Governance and Policy, vol. 6, no. 2, Dec. 2025, pp. 87-100, doi:10.55993/hegp.1691735.

Vancouver

1.Diego Bernaschina. Labor and Professional Accessibility in Chilean Higher Education: Toward Inclusive Legislation for Academic Staff with Disabilities. HEGP. 2025 Dec. 1;6(2):87-100. doi:10.55993/hegp.1691735