Evaluation of institutional autonomy for higher technological institutes in Ecuador

Abstract

This review article examines the institutional autonomy of Higher Technological Institutes (HTIs) in Ecuador within the framework of public management and good governance, considering recent regulatory transformations in the higher education system. The primary objective is to analyze the state of the art regarding the academic, administrative, and financial dimensions of these institutions, identifying progress, limitations, and predominant trends in scientific literature. The methodology consisted of a qualitative critical documentary review, based on the systematization of studies indexed in Scopus, Web of Science, SciELO, and Google Scholar, following criteria of methodological rigor and relevance. The results show that, while the Ecuadorian regulatory framework recognizes institutional autonomy as a fundamental principle, its effective exercise is conditioned by state regulation mechanisms, administrative restrictions, and limited financial self-management capacity in public technological institutes. Furthermore, a marked asymmetry is identified in scientific production, which has focused predominantly on the university sector, relegating the technological subsystem to the background. It is concluded that strengthening institutional autonomy represents a critical challenge for optimizing organizational efficiency and governance; therefore, it is imperative to promote models of responsible autonomy that articulate the regulatory role of the state with expanded institutional management capacities.