The financial autonomy obtained in 1989 by Unicamp, USP and Unesp gave a new dynamic to the activities of the institutions, to the point of placing them among the most prominent higher education schools in the world. However, this condition continues to be questioned and threatened, as it is based on a decree that can be changed or terminated at any time. To be fully assured, the principle of autonomy must be included in the text of the Constitution of the State of São Paulo. With small variations, the reflection permeated the speeches of the participants of the seminar “The IE and Brazil”, promoted this Wednesday afternoon (11) by the Institute of Economics (IE) at Unicamp. The event opened a series of seminars in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Department of Economics and Economic Planning (DEPE), the embryo of IE.
The rector Marcelo Knobel participated at the table; former dean Carlos Vogt, who held the position of general coordinator of the University in 1989; and the Institute's retired professors, Luiz Gonzaga Belluzzo and Frederico Mazzucchelli, who at the time were responsible for the departments of Science, Technology and Economic Development and Economy and Planning, respectively. The objective of the series of seminars, explained the director of IE, professor Paulo Sérgio Fracalanza, is to rescue the importance of the Institute and its teachers in formulating public policies and other institutional definitions in the country in recent decades, as well as reflecting on the changes and current challenges in each of the themes.
Despite having actively participated in the negotiations that culminated in the publication of the decree granting financial autonomy to São Paulo state universities, Belluzzo preferred to de-emphasize the characters involved in the episode and highlight the importance of the social and political process that led to the decision. According to him, the proposal was the subject of disagreements both within the Quércia government and between the then deans of Unicamp, USP and Unesp. “Autonomy turned out to be a very successful project. It helped boost the State's science and technology system. Unfortunately, autonomy is based on a decree, which may undergo changes or be extinguished. This is very risky. Ideally, this achievement should be guaranteed through an amendment to the State Constitution. At the time, I even insisted that this happen, but I was defeated”, he reported.
In Belluzzo's opinion, public universities have been fundamental in promoting studies and proposing solutions to the problems that afflict Brazil, including the enormous socioeconomic inequality. Mazzucchelli also recalled some episodes involving the negotiations to grant financial autonomy to São Paulo state universities. According to him, the first initiative in this regard came from the then governor Orestes Quércia, after a 60-day strike by civil servants. “The governor asked us to help him make the measure viable, which was met with resistance within the government itself. In the end, however, the proposal was approved,” he recalled.
Mazzucchelli stated that, when working in government, the work is 90% hassle and 10% joy. “I am happy to have contributed to the principle of autonomy taking hold,” he declared. According to Vogt, until 1989 the management of São Paulo state universities was similar to that of direct administration bodies. “At every need, the rectors had to go, saucers in hand, to the secretariats to ask for resources necessary for investments and funding of the institutions,” he said.
This situation, added the former dean, created many difficulties in planning university activities, including those related to the academic sphere. “Autonomy was an act of discernment by Governor Quércia. It was thanks to this new legal-institutional situation that universities were able, for example, to adopt programs to recognize and value their human resources, based on merit”, he pointed out. “Over time, however, situations arose that undermined this autonomy, which needs to continue to be defended. This issue cannot be treated as a gift that needs to be reaffirmed year after year, mainly because governments tend to keep an eye on the resources that are allocated to universities,” he added.
Society's assets
The last to speak, rector Marcelo Knobel reaffirmed the importance of financial autonomy, but noted that São Paulo state universities are currently dealing with some issues that were not foreseen when the measure was formulated. “The resources transferred to universities by the State come from ICMS. What could happen, for example, if the ICMS is replaced by the single tax?”, he asked. The director assured that the current management of Unicamp is committed to including the principle of university autonomy in the State Constitution. “This is a recurring theme in my meetings with the governor and state representatives.”
Knobel pointed out that Unicamp's current financial situation is critical. According to him, the Brazilian economic crisis had negative impacts on ICMS collection, consequently reducing transfers to the University, which are set at 2,1958%. Aside from this problem, continued the rector, the institution's budget is under other types of pressure, such as the growth in the payroll of inactive employees and the coverage of part of the healthcare costs. “The SUS table has not been readjusted for around nine years. Furthermore, our healthcare sector, which serves a region with five million inhabitants, is underfunded,” he said.
Furthermore, according to Knobel, since the advent of autonomy, state universities in São Paulo have created numerous undergraduate and postgraduate courses, built campuses and significantly increased the number of students, without funding from the State accompanying this evolution. “In the case of Unicamp, when the Faculty of Applied Sciences was built, the government promised that the University would receive an extra contribution of around 0,05% of ICMS, but this was not fulfilled”.
Apart from all these difficulties, concluded the rector, public universities in São Paulo have been playing a fundamental role in the development of São Paulo and the country by training highly qualified human resources, by generating new knowledge, by promoting the progress of science and technology. and by contributing to the formulation of public policies that contribute to increasing the quality of life and well-being of the population. “We need to adequately communicate to society that public universities are indispensable to ensure the future of Brazil.”
