The event was marked by warnings about the importance of the topic for the country's science and innovation ecosystem. The work has a preface signed by the three rectors of the São Paulo state schools
The launch of the book “University Autonomy: 30 years in the State of São Paulo”, organized by Unesp legal advisors Edson César dos Santos Cabral and João Eduardo Lopes Queiroz, was marked by emphatic warnings about the importance of university autonomy for the democratic regime and for the country's science and innovation ecosystem.
Mediated by the organizers of the book and transmitted by Unesp channel on YouTube On the evening of this Monday (28), the event brought together three scholars on the subject who are co-authors of the work: Nina Beatriz Stocco Ranieri, coordinator of the UNESCO chair of Law to Education at the Faculty of Law of the University of São Paulo (USP); Fabiana de Menezes Soares, professor at the Faculty of Law of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG); and Alexandre Santos de Aragão, professor at the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) and Cândido Mendes University. The book launch is available on Youtube.
"Our meeting was extremely rich and fruitful. The people who were able to follow us live and others who will follow us later, through the recordings, I am sure will be very motivated to acquire the work, due to its content, the importance of the theme and the moment, which requires important reflection and an uncompromising defense of university autonomy”, stated Unesp's chief legal advisor, Edson César dos Santos Cabral.
In her speech, Nina Ranieri gave a history of university autonomy in light of the 1988 Federal Constitution and the Education Guidelines and Bases Law and harshly criticized Bill 529/20, which proposes the transfer of the financial surplus for the year 2019 from the three state universities in São Paulo (USP, Unicamp and Unesp) and Fapesp (São Paulo State Research Support Foundation) to the State Treasury's single account.
Such a measure, if materialized, is considered a break with the model of university autonomy in force in the State of São Paulo for three decades, since 1989. PL 529/20 should be voted on this week. “I consider this bill forwarded by the current State government to the Assembly, with regard to this situation of capturing resources from the three universities and Fapesp, a disaster. It’s a big setback,” said Nina Ranieri. “It is a legal setback because the appropriation of these resources is manifestly unconstitutional and this will result in intense judicialization (...) and, from an institutional point of view, it places the four institutions in a legal uncertainty that, without a doubt, it will harm its core activities”, he stated.
Professor Fabiana de Menezes Soares made reference to the book “O Estado Empreendedor”, by Mariana Mazzucato, to remember the fundamental role of state investment in education, science, technology and innovation. “We are at the center of an economic crisis in which the knowledge economy can point to possibilities for new opportunities, new businesses. But this, without the State assuming its role as an entrepreneur from a scientific point of view, and if, on the contrary, the State withdraws, the result is not a result that only affects university autonomy. What it will achieve is the autonomy of our country, our autonomy in knowledge, our ability to respond scientifically to the demands and problems that arise and which, unfortunately, have become quite evident due to the Covid-19 pandemic”, said the professor at UFMG.
Alexandre Santos de Aragão focused on the importance of university autonomy for Brazilian democracy, a central theme of the book launch meeting. “University autonomy represents a limit to the interference of the three powers within universities. Why this protection? Because universities are the critical conscience of the country. They have to be protected from political interference from any of the powers because within the university, the evolution of thought takes place par excellence and every research project is long-term. This also demands that this management of research and extension linked to it is not subordinated to political-electoral variations”, stated Aragão.
The book “University Autonomy: 30 years in the State of São Paulo” is being launched with the support of Editora Unesp and Fundação Vunesp. The preface of the work is written by the rectors of USP, Unicamp and Unesp, representing the Council of Rectors of São Paulo State Universities (Cruesp), currently chaired by Unesp. “The (content) being recorded may be used by academia. It is important for the history of Brazilian university autonomy”, said Unesp legal advisor João Eduardo Lopes Queiroz.
Matter original published on the Unesp website.
