13/06/2005 what’s going on in the brazilian higher education system? carmem maia andreia santos
TRANSCRIPT
13/06/2005
What’s going on in the Brazilian Higher Education System?
Carmem Maia
Andreia Santos
Higher Education in Brazil
Overview
Higher Education in Brazil Higher Education Reform Distance Education Policies for Distance Education Ethnographic Research Online courses
Higher Education in Brazil
Higher Education in Brazil
Number of students per year Public & private universities (75% private HE) Profile of the Brazilian undergraduate student Courses Market Needs
Higher Education in Brazil
Higher Education ReformMain proposed points:
Social Responsibility
Commitment to academic freedom
Promotion of cultural diversity Characteristics of universities
Democratic management of the institutions (social representatives and members of the community)
Higher Education in Brazil
Main proposed points - continued
University autonomy (financial)Increased professional recognition of
academics and administrative staffCareer Plan Institutional Development Plan (PDI)Every 5 years (signed commitment to meet and
improve educational quality standards; offer increased community services)
Higher Education in Brazil
Main proposed points - continued
Politics of affirmative actions
Equal opportunities and social inclusion actions
Allocation of racial quotas to HE access
50% of places in public universities
ProUni
Increase of funding for public universities
70 – 75%
Higher Education in Brazil
Controversial Points
Many polemic points:
More autonomy for private universities Distance Education – New Technologies Educational bureaucracy
Increase of qualified tutors
Quality standards
Higher Education in Brazil
2nd proposal – what has changed?
Reservation of places – 50% to public education; Distance Education; Autonomy for private HE; Community Council – non “punitive”; 50% HE Institutions faculty = MS (25% PHD); Evening courses offered by public institutions;
Higher Education in Brazil
Distance Education in Brazil
More than 50 years Printed material – literacy – bad quality From 15 years – web-based Corporative e-learning HE and Distance Learning – institutions and
courses
Higher Education in Brazil
Distance Education in Brazil - continued
Main technologies for Higher Education Virtual Networks Brazilian Open University
Higher Education in Brazil
Distance Education – legislation in Brazil
Distance Education has been legally indicated in the “Lei de Diretrizes e Bases da Educação Nacional” (LDB, 1996)- Law for National Education.
Distance Education could be used for fundamental, second and higher education
Higher Education in Brazil
Policies in Distance Education
Formal legalization is still in process:
LDB art. 80 – for public discussion- available at MEC’s website
- 20% of total amount o hours studied in a course can be taken at a distance;
- Face-to-face exams
Higher Education in Brazil
Digital divide
IBGE – Brazilian Institute of Statistical Geography
15.3% Brazilian homes have a computer;
11.4% are connected to the internet
Program: Connected PC – cheaper computers (to be launched last April but postponed)
Higher Education in Brazil
Some more numbers…
Corporate sector: 2 million Brazilians study online
51 registered courses by MEC – only 90.000 people study online
Higher Education in Brazil
Distance Education - technologies
Teleduc (made in Brazil, delivered free of charge)
AulaNet – PUCRJ Blackboard WebCt
Higher Education in Brazil
The Experience at Unis@Digital
Institutions have to be “approved and registered by the Ministry of Education” to be able to offer courses
10 quality indicators used by the committee
The institution has to :
1) be integrated with national standards for national HE
Higher Education in Brazil
Quality indicators
2) Have a project design (with a specific ‘identity’)
3) Have a multidisciplinary team
4) Emphasise communication and interaction between tutor and students
5) Provide quality in educational resources
Higher Education in Brazil
Quality indicators
6) Provide appropriate infra-structure
7)Have continuous and encompassing course quality evaluations
8) Ideally have partnerships
9) Provide good information about the courses
10) Consider costs for implementation and maintenance of courses
Higher Education in Brazil
The experience at Unis@Digital
6-month ethnographic experience
1st year undergraduate course – blended learning
Resistance from faculties and students Face-to-face component Assessment
Higher Education in Brazil
Demos
Un s@ t i Digi a
Anhembi-Morumbi
http://www2.anhembi.br/html/ead/
http://www.anhembi.br/unidadeweb
Higher Education in Brazil
Thank you!
Carmem Maia – London Knowledge [email protected]
Andreia I. Santos – The Open University- [email protected]