Expansion and interiorization of federal universities: an analysis of the implementation process of the campus of the north coast of the Federal University of Paraíba (Brazil)

Abstract

The Brazilian federal government, since 2004, has been concerned with expand into the interior the federal public universities. In this context, from 2005, the UFPB recovered its internalization process, by the creation of the Campus IV (North Coast), located in the cities of Rio Tinto and Mamanguape. This article analyzes the implementation process of the Campus of the North Coast of UFPB. The theoretical foundation addressed the public policy cycle, in particular the implementation stage, highlighting the model of Smith (1973), and public policies of higher education in the FHC and Lula. The research was descriptive and qualitative, conducted through a case study. The primary data were collected through interviews with nine people, professors and technical administrators, who participated directly in the implementation process. Were also used secondary data, such as institutional documents, and newspaper articles published in the local press. The data analysis was the content analysis. The data allowed the analysis of the implementation process in the institutional perspective, the political and institutional aspects; in materials perspective, the technical and administrative aspects; and procedural perspective, relations with society. The survey results revealed that the implementation process had a political influence, especially in the choice of cities that receive the campus. The implementation of the Campus IV was a strategic action with an enormous educational, social and economic relevance, carried out, however, from some mistakes, as lack of proper planning and difficulties in the execution of infrastructure projects.