From 2025, the graduate studies programs of excellence of the six public universities in São Paulo, with grades of 6 or 7 in the evaluation by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (Capes), will be able to adopt structural changes to their graduate studies programs. These changes are aimed at making the programs more flexible, modernizing the content of the subjects, offering extracurricular activities, giving new meaning to the master’s degree and boosting the doctorate.
A memorandum of understanding signed on Monday, November 11, between Capes, São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) and the six public universities in São Paulo – USP, State University of São Paulo (Unesp), State University of Campinas (Unicamp), Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp), Federal University of ABC (UFABC) and Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar) – encourages the programs to adopt changes that will make graduate studies more attractive, diversified and compatible with the demands of society.
“Our graduate studies model was created in 1965, with the so-called Sucupira Opinion. In these 60 years of effectiveness, the world has changed, the higher education system has changed and some adaptations have become necessary. One of them is the length of the graduate studies. Currently, the average time to degree in Brazil is 9.5 years, because there is a gap between a master’s degree and a doctorate,” explained the President of USP, Carlos Gilberto Carlotti Junior, who spoke on behalf of the three São Paulo state universities.
The Chairman of FAPESP, Marco Antonio Zago, emphasized that “this is a problem that has emerged progressively in recent times. I graduated from graduate studies at the age of 28. Today, on average, doctorates are awarded at the age of 38 and this increase in time has not resulted in an increase in quality. The country can’t stand it.
This is a reality that we have to change by simplifying processes, reducing bureaucracy and unnecessary requirements for training good researchers.”
The proposed changes are the result of a long discussion that has taken place in institutions over the last few years about the format, role and future of graduate studies in Brazil and around the world. “This agreement represents a joint effort to attract more doctorate candidates, reduce the average age of doctorate graduates, boost and qualify the graduate studies programs of the universities involved. Applying resources for training qualified people in research is not an expense, it’s an investment,” said Luiz Antonio Pessan, director of Programs and Fellowships at Capes.