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Marcel Bursztyn rules out "revolution" in
body and states that it will maintain the Periodicals Portal

New president says Capes will undergo adjustments

CLAYTON LEVY O The new president of the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (Capes), Marcel Bursztyn, says he does not intend to make any "revolution" at the head of the body. According to him, the evaluation system will undergo adjustments within a "natural process of improvement", but without "turning the system upside down". He also ensured the maintenance of the Capes Periodicals Portal, considered one of the main sources of consultation and updating. Bursztyn took office at the beginning of August, replacing Carlos Roberto Jamil Cury, who resigned citing health problems. At the time, however, speculation arose that Cury left because he disagreed with the budget forecast for Capes in 2004. Despite the alleged health reasons, Cury's resignation caused concern in the Capes Technical-Scientific Council. In a letter delivered to the Minister of Education, Cristovam Buarque, the counselors stated that the episode "caused a great impact and apprehension, adding to other signs of difficulty in Brazilian postgraduate studies at this time, which coincides with the annual monitoring of our postgraduate courses". In response, Cristovam denied the speculation and promised to appoint an academic committed to postgraduate studies. Soon afterwards, Bursztyn was appointed. Between 1995 and 2002, Capes' investments in scholarships have varied between 80% and 90% of total expenses incurred, according to data from the entity itself. The highest mark was reached in 98, when 91% of the budget was allocated to scholarships, totaling R$392 million. The lowest mark was recorded in 2001, when investments in scholarships fell to 78% of the budget, totaling R$403 million. Last year, the Investments rose again, reaching 86% of the budget, with R$413 million allocated to financing scholarships. Over the last five years, the federal government's budget allocations for Capes have remained in the range of R$500 million annually. The largest of them in this period occurred in 2001, when the entity received R$516 million and spent R$514 million. The lowest was recorded in 95, when Capes received R$418 million and recorded an expense of R$410 million. Last year, the allocation was R$478 million. For this year, the resources allocated by the government should represent an increase of 2% compared to 2002. Professor and economist, Bursztyn was coordinator of the doctoral program in Environment and Development at the University of Brasília (UnB). The proximity to the minister also influenced the choice of the new president of Capes. Bursztyn was special advisor for Planning and deputy secretary for Industry and Commerce during Cristovam's administration in the Federal District government. The economist wrote several books, including "Cristovam Buarque - The sower of utopias". Last Wednesday, while participating in the XI Brazilian Congress of Sociology at Unicamp, he gave the following interview to Jornal da Unicamp.

JU - Do you intend to make changes to the Capes evaluation system?

Marcel bursztyn - It depends on what qualifies as change. Changes have occurred over time in a natural process of evolution and improvement. Monitoring and evaluation are activities for which there are no concrete, static formulas. Capes' experience over many years has been one of evolution, with adjustments and modifications. In this sense, there will possibly be changes, but not a revolution. Let's not turn the system upside down. But some adjustments are necessary. We have received echoes from the scientific community demanding that the system go through new stages in its evolution.

JU - What are the points that would need adjustments?

Marcel - Greater flexibility in relation to different fields of knowledge. It is very difficult to assume that there are universal criteria. You cannot evaluate different things with the same rules. This has already occurred naturally in the different advisory committees. Some of them start to adapt the evaluation mechanisms to their particularities. If, on the one hand, in Physics, publication in international journals aimed at peers is fundamental, on the other hand, in the case, for example, of Social Service, although this is also important, extension activities are more relevant for their own sake. nature of this area. Therefore, space needs to be created to value these activities in specific disciplines, as in the case of Social Work.

JU - Would this flexibility be limited to these specific cases?

Marcel - There is also a need for greater flexibility in accepting new fields of knowledge, especially those that have been framed within the universe of interdisciplinarities. There is a certain reaction to the entry of programs that are on the border between different areas of knowledge, when in fact we understand that the complexity of problems in the world today means that interdisciplines increasingly occupy an important space in academia and need to legitimize themselves. . Another thing that I consider important is to pay more attention to qualitative assessment. It is not enough to have many theses; we also have to have good theses.

JU - Is there already a consolidated plan to implement these changes?

Marcel - Some of these changes are already underway or are being considered in different committees. We have a meeting of the Technical and Scientific Council in the middle of this month where some of these points are already up for debate. Naturally we will introduce it little by little.

JU - Are there prospects for increasing the number of scholarships and the value of scholarships granted by Capes?

Marcel - From an optimistic perspective, I can say that there will be no reduction in the number of scholarships, nor in the value of scholarships. Taking a pessimistic view, I have to say that there will be no increase in the number or value of scholarships next year. At least that is the indication based on the budget allocation we have for 2004, which is practically the same as this year. It should only rise by 2% to 3%, reaching a total of R$500 million. Of the total budget, more than 80% will be allocated to scholarships. It's a high percentage.

JU - What about the Periodicals Portal? The community is concerned about the possibility of Capes ceasing to finance the Portal. Is there such a risk?

Marcel - Without a doubt, Capes will continue to support the Periodicals Portal. This is a great acquisition and a good deal. It's cheaper to do this than buying individual subscriptions. It is also more practical and democratic. Without a doubt, it will be maintained. This does not mean that we will be complacent with the costs presented to us, which are very expensive. These costs will have to be reduced. We are in negotiations with international publishers who provide us with the titles. There are certain areas, such as Humanities, in which it is necessary to add new titles, but there are also titles that are rarely visited. So we have to reduce unnecessary expenses and increase other aspects so that, on average, we can reduce costs

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