Knowledge management in community universities of Santa Catarina: strategies to improve academic and research results

Abstract

Community universities play a fundamental role in the production and dissemination of knowledge, especially in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. In the context of the knowledge economy, knowledge management (KM) emerges as a strategic approach to improve the quality of education and enhance scientific output in these institutions. This article investigates how community universities in Santa Catarina implement KM strategies aimed at improving their academic and research outcomes. A qualitative methodology was adopted, with semi-structured interviews conducted with academic managers and faculty members from community institutions (identified as UCC1, UCC2, UCC3), analyzed through content analysis. The results reveal that, although there are no consolidated formal KM policies, various practices are used to share and create knowledge, such as communities of practice, institutional repositories, and training programs. Interviewees reported improvements in pedagogical innovation, integration of research groups, and administrative efficiency stemming from these initiatives. However, challenges such as an organizational culture not oriented toward sharing, lack of incentives, and work overload limit the effectiveness of knowledge management. The study engages with classical KM literature, applying concepts from Nonaka and Takeuchi, Choo, Wiig, Firestone, and McElroy to the context of community higher education institutions. It concludes that the systematic implementation of KM strategies in these universities can enhance the quality of education and research performance, aligning the community mission with academic excellence. The article offers practical contributions by suggesting actions to strengthen knowledge management in the analyzed institutions and proposes further research to deepen the topic in the context of Brazilian higher education.