PUBLIC GOVERNANCE AND UNIVERSITY AUTONOMY AT THE FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF SANTA CATARINA: MANAGERS PERCEPTION AND HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF CONCEPTS IN THE INSTITUCIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS

Abstract

This study has as its objectives characterize how the governance and autonomy of the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC) are perceived by the university’s administrators and describe the historical governance of UFSC institutional policies. This study is characterized by its qualitative and descriptive nature. The subjects of this study are university’s administrators from all UFSC Campi. Primary and secondary data gathered by documents, bibliography, questionnaires and semi structured interviews was used in this study. The research results point to a uniform comprehension of the concepts of governance by UFSC’s administrators, even though there are differences in certain elements that constitute the concept when compared to academic writings. The research has also shown a deep understanding and an unfolding of the concepts of governance for the essential areas of the university’s administration. Although the university has presented considerable advances, the research identified gaps that need to be filled by the university’s management. Any how this is a natural occurrence, as the governance and university are objects of constant development.