The Fast Track to New Skills - Short-Cycle Higher Education Programs in Latin America and the Caribbean

Jul 19, 2026

The Fast Track to New Skills examines short-cycle higher education programs in Latin America and the Caribbean, focusing on how these initiatives can expand opportunities and respond to labor market needs. The analysis covers program design and institutional conditions, the supply and demand dynamics for graduates, and economic value, including costs and duration in selected countries. It synthesizes findings from a World Bank survey and provides policy guidance on how to realize the potential of short-cycle programs.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages217

Reading Time9 h 7 min

Overview

New Data to Answer New Questions

General Landscape of SCPs in LAC

Labor Market Outcomes of SCP Graduates

Supply of SCPs

What Makes a Program “Good”?

Policy to Realize the Potential of SCPs

Introduction

Defining SCPs

What Is a “Good” SCP?

World Bank Short-Cycle Program Survey

Framework of the Book

Chapter 1 Landscape of Short-Cycle Programs in Latin America and the Caribbean

Institutional Landscape

Five Stylized Facts

Critical Institutional Aspect: Funding

Institutions and Students in Five Countries

Conclusions

Chapter 2 Are Short-Cycle Programs Worthwhile?

What Do We Know?

Economic Value of SCPs in LAC

Costs, Duration, and Economic Returns

Expanding the Supply of SCPs

Contribution (Value Added) of SCPs

Demand for SCP Graduates

Conclusions

Chapter 3 Supply of Short-Cycle Programs

Dynamics and Competition in SCP Markets

Role of Location

Programs and Providers in LAC

The Fast Track Public Disc losure Authorized Pub lic Disclosure Authorized Pub lic Disc losure Authorized Pub lic Disclosure Authorized to New Skills Short-Cycle Higher Education Programs in Latin America and the Caribbean María Marta Ferreyra Lelys Dinarte Díaz Sergio Urzúa Marina Bassi The Fast Track to New Skills The Fast Track to New Skills Short-Cycle Higher Education Programs in Latin America and the Caribbean María Marta Ferreyra, Lelys Dinarte Díaz, Sergio Urzúa, and Marina Bassi © 2021 International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433 Telephone: 202-473-1000; [Internet: www.worldbank.org](Internet: www.worldbank.org) Some rights reserved 1 2 3 4 24 23 22 21 This work is a product of the staff of The World Bank with external contributions. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this work do not necessarily reflect the views of The World Bank, its Board of Executive Directors, or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or currency of the data included in this work and does not assume responsibility for any errors, omissions, or discrepancies in the information, or liability with respect to the use of or failure to use the information, methods, processes, or conclusions set forth. The boundaries, colors, denominations, and other information shown on any map in this work do not imply any judgment on the part of The World Bank concerning the legal status of any territory or the endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries. Nothing herein shall constitute or be construed or considered to be a limitation upon or waiver of the privileges and immunities of The World Bank, all of which are specifically reserved. Rights and Permissions This work is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 IGO license (CC BY 3.0 IGO) [http://](http://)[ ](http://)[creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo. Under](creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo. Under) the Creative Commons Attribution license, you are free to copy, distribute, transmit, and adapt this work, including for commercial purposes, under the following conditions: Attribution—Please cite the work as follows: Ferreyra, María Marta, Lelys Dinarte Díaz, Sergio Urzúa, and Marina Bassi. 2021. The Fast Track to New Skills: Short-Cycle Higher Education Programs in Latin America and the Caribbean. Washington, DC: World Bank. doi:10 . 1596/978-1-4648-1706-9 . License: Creative Commons Attribution CC BY 3.0 IGO Translations—If you create a translation of this work, please add the following disclaimer along with the attribution: This translation was not created by The World Bank and should not be considered an official World Bank translation. The World Bank shall not be liable for any content or error in this translation. Adaptations—If you create an adaptation of this work, please add the following disclaimer along with the attribution: This is an adaptation of an original work by The World Bank. Views and opinions expressed in the adaptation are the sole responsibility of the author or authors of the adaptation and are not endorsed by The World Bank. Third-party content—The World Bank does not necessarily own each component of the content contained within the work. The World Bank therefore does not warrant that the use of any third-partyowned individual component or part contained in the work will not infringe on the rights of those third parties. The risk of claims resulting from such infringement rests solely with you. If you wish toreuse a component of the work, it is your responsibility to determine whether permission is needed for that reuse and to obtain permission from the copyright owner. Examples of components can include, but are not limited to, tables, figures, or images. All queries on rights and licenses should be addressed to World Bank Publications, The World Bank Group, 1818 H Street

FAQs

What are the main topics covered about short-cycle programs in Latin America and the Caribbean?

The document reviews the general landscape of short-cycle programs, labor market outcomes, supply conditions, what makes a program “good,” and policy options to realize program potential.

How does the report assess whether short-cycle programs are worthwhile?

It evaluates economic value in the region, including costs, duration, and economic returns in countries such as Chile and Colombia, alongside contributions to value added and demand signals from vacancies.

What factors influence the supply and effectiveness of short-cycle programs?

Supply-side dynamics are analyzed through competition and market behavior, the role of location, and the institutional and funding context, linking program design to outcomes for students and employers.

Jul 19, 2026

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