Unicamp promoted this Wednesday morning (22) an unprecedented meeting between emeritus professors of the University. The meeting, promoted by the Rectory, took place in the University Council room (Consu), under the coordination of rector Marcelo Knobel. The initiative had two objectives, according to the director: to honor the teachers, who contributed so much to the development of the institution, and to ask them to offer ideas and suggestions to further improve university activities.
Of the 55 professors awarded the title of professor emeritus by Unicamp, 29 are alive. Of these, 16 attended the meeting, which also included the participation of the University's general coordinator, professor Teresa Atvars; the Vice-Rector of Research, Professor Munir Skaf; the Vice-Rector of Extension and Community Affairs, Professor Fernando Hashimoto, the Chief of Staff of the Rectory, Professor Joaquim Murray Bustorff Silva; the deputy chief of staff, professor Shirlei Pimentel; the head of the Executive Board of Administration (DEA), professor Roberto Rodrigues Paes; and the director of the Executive Directorate of International Relations (DERI), professor Mariano Laplane.
When opening the proceedings, Marcelo Knobel thanked the guests for the contributions they made in their respective areas of activity. The rector stated that Unicamp has and will have to face several challenges to continue maintaining the excellence of its activities, and that the collaboration of emeritus professors, offering ideas and projects, is essential for the institution to be successful. “We want to count on your experience and proposals,” he said.
The director informed that the Rectory will send reports and projects to emeritus professors, so that they are aware of the most relevant issues for the University and, thus, can offer their contributions. One of the proposals that emerged during the meeting came from former dean José Martins Filho, who suggested that Unicamp study the possibility of building a convention center in the area adjacent to the Barão Geraldo campus, acquired by the University in March 2014.
According to Martins Filho, the space could be used by the University itself to hold scientific events, but also rented to third parties, which could ensure the entry of extra resources for the institution. Marcelo Knobel reported that one of the ideas for using the area in question is the installation of a kind of Knowledge City, where research laboratories, a convention center and an International Center for Sustainable Development would be brought together, an organization that would bring together Brazilian and foreigners and representatives of the productive sector around research that dealt with topics related to the issue of sustainability.
Marcelo Knobel said that he has been in talks with the São Paulo State Research Support Foundation (Fapesp), which has shown interest in supporting the initiative. Throughout the meeting, the emeritus professors spoke about other subjects, such as the need to expand undergraduate places, the importance of Unicamp being more incisive in defending quality public schools and the University adopting a program that encourages each employee or professor to plant trees on campuses upon retirement.
The dean considered the meeting very productive and expressed his expectation of receiving several contributions from the emeritus professors. “We have incredible potential that has never been explored. They are people with a lot of experience and who can help in building the future of Unicamp”, he considered. For former rector José Martins Filho, the idea of the meeting was very positive and should bear good fruit. Also former dean Carlos Vogt stated that, through accumulated experience, the group can make a quality contribution “towards the construction of the institution’s fundamental objectives”.
