TY  - UNPB
UR  - http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?did=1&uin=uk.bl.ethos.630817
TI  - Higher education reform in Brazil: some voices of the academia
N2  - This thesis examines the rationale underlying the recent changes concerned
with the expansion, organisation, social commitment and public sponsorship
of non-research-intensive Brazilian universities, which represent the biggest
(though not much investigated) segment of the Brazilian higher education
system. Unlike the approach adopted by a significant part of the Brazilian
research conducted in this area ? which is based on the assumption that the
changes are largely the outcome of the national educational policies of the
mid 1990s ? this study focuses on the role played by the academics
themselves. A qualitative research strategy was employed that drew on the
findings of semi-structured interviews with 40 lecturers from different
departments of a non-research-intensive Brazilian university. The findings
revealed that the complex situation partially resulting from the new
educational policies had led to two distinct reactions within the university. The
first was characterized by a movement of resistance against such policies,
which were regarded as harmful to the university's practices and the
academic work. The other attitude was characterised by a willingness to
engage in commercial practices and establish closer links with private
companies, mainly through the provision of services in outreach
programmes. The significance of this entrepreneurial involvement was shown
in its effect on the concept of outreach ? traditionally a form of social service
provided by the universities. The research also obtained evidence that the
financial resources derived from these commercial practices have allowed
the university to improve its facilities and the quality of its activities. This
contradicts the assertions of several Brazilian authors who claim that these
practices have had an adverse effect on the university's autonomy and social
role. However, further research is needed to understand the full implications
of the benefits and drawbacks of these commercial practices.
Y1  - 2010///
PB  - Institute of Education, University of London
A1  - Christofoletti, Jose Fernando
M1  - Doctoral
ID  - discovery10019929
N1  - Thesis: (PhD) University of London Institute of Education, 2010.
EP  - 259
AV  - public
ER  -