Sustainability policies and strategies for higher education in Brazil: an analysis from the perspective theory of autopoietic systems

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the sustainability approach in the history of higher education in Brazil under the foundations of the theory of autopoietic systems. This is an exploratory qualitative, aimed at identifying the key phenomena that determine the trajectory and historical evolution of policies and strategies for higher education. With regard to the evolution of higher education, it can be verified that occurred so late, through the Universities for a broad process of legislation and several key events. The perspective of sustainability, especially Education for Sustainability, is in the process of evolution. As more significant results , evidence shows that Brazil has been a strong ally of the United Nations - UN , in seeking to strengthen strategies and actions for sustainability; important actor for the creation of certification standards such as ISO; insertion new policy evaluation and control in education by the Ministry of education - MEC and their counsel; creation of planning for educational institutions, called the Institutional Development Plan - PDI; inclusion of environmental education in the curriculum guidelines of college-level courses between others, new processes and policies for the education qualification, new management models, especially for the operationalization of PDI in Higher Education Institutions (HEI).