Prácticas académicas de profesores de posgrado en el contexto de la era Internet. Estudio de caso: Doctorados

In the internet era the knowledge-based economy is subject to constant changes, so the acquisition of new skills and technological innovation are vital to the modern society as a whole. This work aims to point out that based on educational policies, in Mexico, the postgraduate programs of quality, mediated by digital technologies, constitute privileged academic tool for learning, research and technological innovation. From a methodological perspective of case study discussed one of our 22 consolidated PhD of the National Program of Quality Graduate Programs (PNPC) of the CONACYT. Among other relevant search results, we obtained that in the majority of the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), responsible for managing those programs, the conditions of infrastructure and technological equipment suffer from serious limitations or shortcomings ranging in demerit to teachers and students in graduate quality programs of better spaces for high academic performance. The above that is a negative factor in the process of training of professionals and researchers with superior levels of competence that allows them to be competitive at national and international levels.


Introduction
The current context in which higher education in the world and the incorporation of technologies of information and communication technologies (ICT) in education develops generate changes in the traditional practices of teaching and research as well as in the organization educational institutions serving this level. The emergence and development of new technologies generate profound structural changes in the fields of economics, public policy, education and the transformation of labor relations (Valenti, 2008). In the Internet age the knowledge-based economy is subject to constant changes, so the acquisition of new skills and technological innovation are vital.
The integration of ICT in the teaching, learning and research at the graduate of the Mexican educational system can not be left out of the plans and programs of study they constitute one of the factors necessary for change in modern societies, including culture, organizations, businesses, education, social and individual communication and entertainment itself. Are digital tools which are contributing to the creation of knowledge societies in which graduates of postgraduate professionals are called to compete. This implies the need to review the development of national education policies, specifically those related to graduate, now has a high significance and strategic importance in the process of training professionals and researchers with higher levels of competence (Fresán, 2013) .
The constant and rapid technological changes, including ICT, forcing academics and students in training to update their knowledge to avoid the risk of being caught in the digital divide. "The rate of appearance of new concepts, paradigms and tools is so dizzying that a professional with just a few years of experience finds that requires expertise that could not acquire during their time in college because, at that time, were unknown subjects or even They were just under investigation " (Di Tada, 2008, p. 2). There is no doubt that one of the alternatives to overcome this shortcoming is, among other options, quality graduate study.
As part of the national development of graduate widely exposed in the various instruments of educational policies, which cover quality, equity and relevance is widely present objectives, the role of ICT is relevant in more ways than one . The use of ICT is not only essential in the processes of teaching and research but also essential for the dissemination of knowledge, which is another critical in the development of graduate factor: "Not only those involved in graduate and research soon have access to the progress of scientific, technological, artistic and humanistic knowledge but are increasingly the beneficiaries of new approaches to the dissemination of science and humanities: Students are responsible for making decisions, legislators, businessmen, among others "(Sánchez Saldaña, 2008, p.7).
Modern communication mediated by new generations of technological devices is at the heart of all human activity, so it is true that the media play a crucial role in educational innovation. Use and appropriation by agents of educational processes must be based on higher quality, coverage and relevance of graduate programs in our country, which is a great challenge to be faced.
Today access to software tools by teachers and students requires involvement and constant interaction, individual and group, for the approach to problems and situations that demand the implementation of strategic skills. ICT in education longer a means to provide themselves constitute information and interactive spaces that encourage the development of cognitive, reflective and communicative skills. When these environments become substantial part of a learning community allow yourself to feel, think, discover and innovate collaboratively. Therefore, you should think of innovative educational policies that enable intelligent use and ownership to reverse the arrears of the current education system and successfully respond to the changing needs of global and local education emerges in the XXI century.
It is pertinent that teachers and students transform computing resources in cognitive devices that support "meaningful learning, learning that promotes the ability to use what they learn in different contexts and disciplines, and naturally leads to creativity" (Narro, Martucelli and Barzana, 2012, p. 361 For this indicator of quality of graduate programs feasible is required to have institutional conditions conducive to academic exchange between teachers and those with students. Graduate academic work depends, Pineapple, institutional conditions such as academic infrastructure that teachers and students to the appropriation of knowledge is offered as a channel to build relationships between all stakeholders in the educational process. For him, "the institutional conditions allow students approach the daily communication between them as well as their teachers so that academic life is not restricted to the classroom is strengthened" (Piña, 2013, p. 119).
It is logical that the relations established in the classroom between students and between them and their teachers are legitimate forms of transmission and assimilation of a certain knowledge; however, by themselves are insufficient, so the institution must provide the planning and the availability of informal spaces for dialogue and the meeting of the academic community; eg cubicles for personal or group counseling, library, staff room, cafes and unscheduled spaces such as hallways, because all relationships and fosters the exchange of ideas related to the academic field.
Improving the institutional administrative efficiency of postgraduate is linked to the inclusion of ICT in business processes of the programs. The administrative support allows the best use of available resources to achieve the objectives of research, training and dissemination of knowledge. Self-assessment guides for accreditation of graduate programs designed by the Conacyt probe the physical and institutional infrastructure and technology students have access to computers and laboratory equipment, but not analyzed in detail what you do with those teams. For Sanchez, "the quality of postgraduate much more dependent arising strategies to promote learning, with various types of ICT support that the number of computers, multimedia equipment, tele-classrooms or video conferencing rooms that an institution may have "(Sánchez Saldaña, 2008, p.12).
According Thematic Network Conacyt ICT, the national education system is currently undergoing "by one of its most critical phases due to the accumulating evidence in recent years of significant deficiencies in quality, equity and coverage. To respond to this situation, has produced a series of reforms to the programs of the different educational levels, with particular emphasis on the development of generic skills -learning to be, to do, to know and convivir-and the inclusion of ICT in education "(Red Theme ICT Conacyt, 2009, p.17). These technologies constitute means and tools to innovate and optimize the educational process and its execution context.
This research aims to investigate the existence and terms of availability of resources of physical and technological infrastructure as vital in the operational planning of graduate quality and impact, especially in the training of university academic communities graduate. Are thought to constitute the maximum cycle graduate in higher education and the inclusion of technological tools in their programs, as well as ownership of these and their use by the research professors in educational practices, carried out so natural and is a must for quality and innovation of these studies input.
The work was divided into four sections, the first a description of educational policies in relation to the incorporation and use of ICT in quality graduate by analyzing official documents ago; in the second part of Conacyt PNPC is analyzed in the third methodological components are outlined and the fourth the empirical results of the study sample are presented selected case.

Educational policy instruments in relation to the incorporation and use of technology
in higher education and quality graduate and research

Education Sector Program (PSE) 2013-2018
From a diagnostic vision, the PSE of the Secretariat of Public Education (SEP) states that the rapid advance of knowledge has led to technological and social changes in the past had been unexpected, so it is necessary to have access to updated information and timely.
With regard to higher education, the program recognizes that in graduate school where the generation of new knowledge and creativity are more important. To "promote the relevance of graduate programs and research will be promoted jointly with the CONACYT, knowledge networks involving institutions of higher education, and support to their internal organization fosters links with production requirements and social "(PSE 2013-2018, p. 7).
It expresses that respond to advances in information societies and knowledge is claimed to year program achieved significant progress in this area? The plans and projects of the previous administrations, mostly, the practical results have been highly limited. 2

Policy programs for the promotion of science, technology and innovation
Since B) The prototype of Thematic Research Networks. The worldwide trend is to seek to connect research groups and groups of teachers with common interests for more efficient processes solving scientific and pedagogical problems cooperation. In Mexico still has not built a culture around collaborative work; will continue to demand jobs in academia or thesis single, which encourages interdisciplinary isolation detriment of efficient use of human and financial resources. Hence, "thematic networks has boosted Conacyt are a linkage mechanism that transcends institutional and disciplinary barriers. However, it should be a review of its organization and results to make them work better "(PI 2014-2018, p. 14).
Access to information is a necessary for society and its institutions to acquire the The current version of the Framework for the Assessment and Monitoring graduate programs (2014c) 6 (hereinafter MRESPP), retrieves and recognizes the multidisciplinary diversity and new ways of organizing graduate, reduce the number of categories and assessment criteria and gives a new relevance to the assessment of outcomes and impacts of 4 Véase nota 1 de este trabajo. 5 Postgraduate studies are level academic programs that have as a prerequisite degree: a) "Specialty: postgraduate preparing for exercise in a specific field of professional work without creating an academic degree studies; b) Master: academic degree whose antecedent is the degree and aims to expand knowledge in a disciplinary field, and c) Doctorate: degree studies involving whose history usually is the master, and represents the highest rank of preparation professional and academic in the national education system "(PECiTI 2014-2018b, Glossary, p. 96). Key areas related to the quality and relevance of graduate programs in this work, only two precepts are analyzed: the first refers to the infrastructure and supports the student and the second to the website of the graduate program. only the curriculum but also the type of scientific infrastructure and supports the student, by the program offices institutions.
In the scientific infrastructure and supports component the student a series of elements that need to retake it are linked to the availability and functionality of the physical facilities and equipment in accordance with the requirements and nature of the program and the security situation is observed. Among others, the following are mentioned: The spaces availability and functionality of the areas and equipment in the facility, including equipment for telecommuting or online.
Specialized laboratories and workshops available, updated and functional by type of institution and in accordance with program requirements and safety conditions, and The specialized and updated as computer rooms located in large spaces for consultation library. (MRESPP, 2014, p. 38) Other specific support to academic work of students mentioned: support courses and thesis preparation of students in the program.
information nodes and databases and digital archives.
Two features help to assess the quality of these physical and digital services that should be of service to the academic community at the headquarters universities graduate program: The first requires as already high standards already mentioned-"competitive research infrastructure with international standards. Appropriate and necessary means for students and teachers perform their work (library, access to databases,

 WEB Page graduate program quality
The study Code of Good Practice and Precept Conacyt making the institution or research center has a web page for each graduate program, with the updated information. Also, demand, in order to contribute to the transparency and access to information, the institution or research center to assume responsibility for disseminating all relevant to postgraduate offering, for which it is required that every program has a website (CBP, 2014, p. 25).
The page content should include, among others, the following indicators:  The academic degrees conferred.

Methodology
To access the object of study, a qualitative approach was used depending on the type of the categories referred to: a) physical and technological infrastructure reported in the curricula of consolidated Conacyt doctorates; b) the website of quality graduate assigned to PNPC and is an important element of information on quality assurance of these programs.
A feature of university academic work, specifically in graduate school, is its complexity reflected in the fields of teaching, conducting research, advising students and management work subject to individual, organizational and institutional factors cut across the proposals made in this regard.

Analysis techniques
In this study, two techniques were used: the descriptive analysis of the documentary sources, with projection insertion in empirical reality. According to Bisquerra in descriptive studies no variable is not handled, only observe and describe the phenomena studied; Additional to this author documentary or bibliographic research is to search, collect, organize, evaluate, and critique on specific topics (Bisquerra, 1989). For the analysis of this case study public education policy instruments Mexico and digital systems consulting Conacyt and other institutions of higher education were used.
The second technique qualitative refers to the semi-structured interview in order to collect the view and perception of teachers and coordinators of a strategic sample curricula quality graduate consolidated attached to PNPC. Without good measuring quantitative type is relevant when it comes to addressing objects large study in this inquiry Strategically was using a qualitative methodology that provides, according to Goetz and LeCompte (1988), analyzing the academic activities of the graduate teachers in the context in which they operate, for thereby facilitating more knowledge of his vision of universities and their academic practices. Consequently a dash of semistructured open online consultation, whose purpose was to determine the views of coordinators and teachers graduate programs selected for this study on the use and importance of ICT was designed specifically the field of teaching practices and research mediated by institutional physical and technological infrastructure.
This type of study is preferred in the interest of an approach to intuition, the discovery and understanding rather than a hypothesis interpretation; accepted that the validity of such methods rely on the fact that investigates and scientific legitimacy and not its frequency or its representative regarding a statistical average. A third quality of this method is that studies often focus on "micro" level of the system, without thereby analysis of broader perspectives related to the structures of society be relegated. The PNPC recorded 22 such programs 13 and it is conjectured, in some studies, which is one of the areas with graduate programs with lower availability in physical and technological infrastructure. 14

Criteria for selection of programs, institutions and informants
For the selection of the venues institutions consolidated doctoral programs are not criteria for national distribution by region or census or quota samples were followed. Opted by those who are taught in universities, colleges and registered in the Register of PNPC institutes.
For the election of coordinators and teachers consolidated doctoral programs who acted as informants experienced consultants, we took into account the following: a) who have completed a minimum of three years as professors in graduate school; b) they were teachers researchers with a doctorate and employed full time, and c) they were registered in the public directory website program or institution, so that you could freely access their respective institutional e post the query was executed by electronic means.
Capturing data: sources The sources that originated the information required for the research were twofold. First, the electronic consultation postgraduate Conacyt and, secondly, the information provided

Empirical Results
Of the 22 study programs rated as Consolidated doctorates, the following features were discovered based on the information provided Institutional Portals or direct to the websites of each of the programs online league leagues: 1. It was found that two universities-the

4.
Another important feature that should be present on the websites of the consolidated doctoral programs is related to updating them. Of the total study programs 9 websites lack information about the update and others have been updated in the periods of the past three years (see Appendix 1).
In short, the absence of complete public information regarding the results of evaluation of the state of the physical and technological infrastructure and other relevant categories, is detrimental to those recorded in the PNPC program, which seeks recognition for quality the formation of its graduates, nationally and internationally.

Controversy
As a first question regarding the implementation of public policies on the graduate program opportunities for high-level resources often do not exist: "Most programs do not have adequate facilities, these have not been designed to enable students to" work "but only to" take lessons " sometimes even in the case of full-time trainees. Similarly in the case of teachers, the distribution of space and time, within programs is a factor often overlooked " (Arredondo, 2008, p. 6). The same applies to the services of physical and technological infrastructure to support the various cohorts of students in a high percentage of HEIs.
Overall, the strategic policy instrument of national development and the education sector predominates (the federal government) a political vision regarding the role pedagogical and educational outcomes. For example, to reiterate how slogan that education and postgraduate quality depends on the country's development means continue to maintain a reductionist view. As we mentioned Yáñez, "download in school such liability is a way of circumventing other spheres of government action and others whose behavior affects the action of the school and teachers" (Yanez, 2014, p. 19). This partial view on the real possibilities of education is not new, since the eighties of the last century has been repeated constantly that quality education is the solution to the problems and cognitive and technological gaps that plague our countries. Researchers should be careful with that.
Similarly, institutions related to Conacyt expressed: "It requires a critical reflection to reorient policies from national assessment of progress. Therefore, the analysis methodologies and schemes to weigh the quality of graduate school, as well as criteria to evaluate to estimate the extent to which the forms and processes instituted currently guarantee an evaluation under graduate diversity is necessary national " (FCCyT, 2012, p. 4). It is evident that even after more than twenty years of experience in evaluation of graduate before the CONACYT, the only models are not the best answer to the formation of high-level human resources given the complexity and multiculturalism in a country like Mexico.

Conclusions
In recent decades in Latin America the meaning of graduate studies has been transformed and has contributed to building a culture of quality thereof. To Fresán, a vigorous graduate constitutes "an alternative to ensure the continuity and growth of scientific work within educational institutions and strengthening research projects directed at solving relevant problems of local, national and even global environment" (Fresán, 2013, p. 9).
In our region, the politics of reform of higher education and graduate in particular becomes more important at national levels, as sometimes is biased by a biased view of reality, as has been noted along this work.
First, the public graduate is assigned the task of forming high-level human resources in both universities and research centers, as well as the production, transfer and innovation of scientific knowledge, leaving aside the problem of little or no involvement of the private sector.
Second, public policies for higher education and graduate Conacyt concentrated in the delicate and demanding task of training researchers our country needs by PNPC, currently recorded 1742 programs on your Padrón, equivalent to 25% of domestic supply, reason to conjecture that has gestated a policy of privilege and discrimination negatively impacting both the possibility of improving graduate whole nationwide.
In a program of this size involves a complex variety of factors, so it is not possible for practical academic excellence without the active contribution of educators: teachers, graduate students and school. The latter, especially, is committed to promoting and ensuring the quality of such programs. Without the political and academic responsibility of universities and research centers, scientific-technological infrastructure and supports the student would be illusory spaces and resources.
Finally, it is pertinent to settle that although there is the Framework for the Assessment and Monitoring Programme Postgraduate quality Conacyt, his success in training human resources senior is mediated by physical spaces and advanced technological infrastructure, so a new question arises: Why the absence of a monitoring and evaluation must be strict 15 It is expected that the results of the electronic consultation launched coordinators and professors from the selected consolidated postgraduate give us new light to clarify this question.