Pro-rectors, pro-rectors and representatives of Unicamp, State University of São Paulo “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” (Unesp), University of São Paulo (USP), Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar) and Federal University of São Paulo ( Unifesp) discussed performance indicators and undergraduate challenges during the II Seminar of Undergraduate Pro-Rectors of São Paulo Public Universities on the morning of last Tuesday, 26th, in the Teaching and Learning Support Space (EA2) at Unicamp. In the afternoon, the debate was about student permanence. The opening was with the general coordinator of Unicamp, Teresa Atvars.
“Our focus, in the morning, was to discuss what processes we use to monitor the evolution of students, disciplines and undergraduate courses and what quantitative and qualitative indicators we can use to better monitor this evolution and guide improvement actions”, highlighted the dean of Unicamp graduate, Eliana Amaral, organizer of the event. “We present how the indicators are linked to institutional assessment and strategic planning and what measures we are taking to improve the curricula of undergraduate courses and their educational strategies”, she added.
According to her, the University is working on a “package” of actions to seek an even more positive academic experience for its students and teachers, which includes the review of curricula and educational activities in the units, based on literature and experiences from other institutions. national and international, supported by the Dean of Undergraduate Studies (PRG). “These changes require creating opportunities for teachers, course coordinators and students to discuss relevant topics to promote more collaborative teaching focused on society's problems”, explained Amaral.
The actions also include more support for Undergraduate secretariats and coordinators and dissemination of data that reflects the evolution of courses with greater agility and transparency. “The exchange of experiences with other public universities in the State of São Paulo helps to deepen the understanding of needs and possible solutions, in addition to collaborative projects to evaluate courses and university institutions” stated the pro-rector of Unicamp.
For the dean of Undergraduate Studies at the Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” (Unesp) Gladis Massini-Cagliari, “there is a mismatch between the training that public universities have offered to undergraduate students and the professional profile needed today in the world, that is, a more flexible professional focused on multidisciplinary practice. Therefore, universities, especially public ones, need to be capable of reinventing themselves, renewing curricula, teaching and assessments.
Unesp, according to Professor Gladis, created a commission to monitor curricular restructuring proposals with the aim of encouraging discussion among course councils. “Some initiatives already discussed revolve around, for example, bringing into the curriculum extracurricular activities that students already do, such as scientific initiation and teaching initiation projects or extension projects.”
The change, added the dean, must be structural, also affecting teaching evaluation. “Until recently, the dimension of teaching evaluation was only seen based on the counting of class hours, but in order to be able to reformulate graduation in a broader way, we need to think about teaching activity far beyond the workload”. The reformulation process must be continuous to meet demands that are also changing, highlighted the pro-rector of Unesp.
Permanence
Regarding the issues of student retention, university representatives brought the most recent experiences of each institution. Student permanence was debated in its structural dimension, related to benefits and scholarships; and symbolic, linked to the experience of belonging, in addition to the academic dimension, previously addressed by the head of the General Coordination of Affirmative Actions, Diversity and Equity at UFSCar, Djalma Ribeiro Junior.
According to presentations by Unicamp, Unesp and Unifesp, the change in the student profile promoted by inclusion policies requires concrete actions to maintain it. Unicamp has one of the oldest and already very structured programs, with scholarships, housing and different types of aid. The structure and services offered by the Student Psychological and Psychiatric Assistance Service (Sappe) and the Student Support Service (SAE) were praised by other institutions.
Unifesp, according to the presentation by Fernando Sfair Kinker, deputy dean of undergraduate studies, serves students according to a profile of economic and social vulnerability. The biggest challenge, he commented, is the pedagogical support for students who encounter a rigid curricular structure. Another issue raised was the unmet need in the area of mental health. “We need to produce sociability networks, create a more lively and welcoming institution, in addition to valuing the student as the protagonist in their needs”.
Based on the points discussed, the pro-rectors and representatives created an agenda of topics to be explored further in the next meetings. The proposal is for the seminar to take place every six months.
