Desafios e possibilidades da política de assistência estudantil da UFJF

Abstract

The present dissertation aims to investigate the actions, developed by the student assistance policy of the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), conceived with the purpose of minimizing educational and social inequality. Having as basis the strategic areas, proposed by the National Program of Student Assistance, this research had as its focus the actions which contribute to an enhanced student formation and to their permanence in higher education, outside the scope of material aid. Student assistance is a public social policy, that is, a governmental plan of action aimed to reducing social inequality. Social inequality may be associated to poverty, but the concept of poverty that guides this study is not restricted to material distress, also encompassing the access to social advantages, such as: healthcare, education and culture. Therefore, this dissertation proposes a broader view of the student assistance policies, suggesting actions not only to fight poverty, but that may reduce other forms of social inequality as well. The research was qualitative in nature and was organized as a case study. We utilized interviews with six individuals who work in different sectors at UFJF, aiming to detail the actions developed by the Office of Student Affairs (PROAE, which manages the assistance policy) while partnering with other sectors of the institution. Additionally, we conducted a documental and bibliographical research in order to present the experiences of ten Brazilian public universities, which also develop such policy and that illustrate how the student assistance policy may be considered as a means to encompass projects and actions from the fields of culture, healthcare (as in psychological care offered to the assisted students) and sports. The results of the research, conducted at UFJF, indicate the need to promote assessments on the policy, in order to find out more about the profile of the assisted students, identify the needs of the target audience, subsidize the implementation of new actions and verify the efficacy of the ongoing ones. It also indicates the importance of mapping out the sectors with which the PROAE may develop partnerships and projects to increase its action. Besides, it revealed the importance to increase the dissemination of the actions developed by the Office responsible for conducting the student assistance policy, so that those supported by the program may know the benefits and opportunities that are offered.