In this cycle, in-person and online undergraduate courses were evaluated with the maximum score, 5
Monday, May 12 | 2025
PUCRS's in-person and online undergraduate courses received a score of 5 from the Ministry of Education (MEC). The Course Score evaluates the quality of the undergraduate course, being the result of a careful analysis that recognizes the structure, teaching staff, pedagogical project and commitment to excellent training on a scale ranging from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest score.
In this evaluation cycle, the following courses were evaluated: International relations; Business Communication; Philosophy (bachelor's degree); Data Science and Artificial Intelligence e Pedagogy – in face-to-face undergraduate courses – and Management processes; Financial management; Human resources Management; Foreign trade e Commercial management – in online graduation.
The evaluations are conducted by the Ministry of Education, and the on-site visits aim to collect evidence and provide opportunities for representatives of the academic community to present it, both during scheduled meetings and through various documents presented. The evaluations took place virtually (the evaluators visited PUCRS facilities remotely) between February and April 2025.
These visits involved teams and departments linked to the Office of the Vice-Rector for Undergraduate Studies and Continuing Education (PROGRAD), the Schools and Planning and Assessment Directorate (DIRPLAN), and the evaluation committees of the National Institute of Studies and Educational Research Anísio Teixeira (INEP). In addition to these, several areas of the University also participated, such as PUCRS Careers, the Student Support Center, the Library, among others.
The Pro-Rector of PROGRAD, Adriana Kampff, explains that the institutional concepts obtained by PUCRS demonstrate the quality of the University. She emphasizes that this result is the result of the institutional academic and administrative policies, the performance in teaching, research and extension, as well as the engagement of professors, technicians and students, in conjunction with the community.
“PUCRS is an educational ecosystem with diverse pathways and countless possibilities for the development of students, technicians, professors and society. From higher education admission policies to retention and success policies; from teaching opportunities with real practices to career support; from research placements to paths that lead to innovation and the generation of impactful businesses; from participation in complementary educational activities to internationalization programs; from wellness spaces to extension programs; from the availability and diversity of laboratories to the library collection and services, from campus infrastructure to management practices – all of this (and much more) is analyzed by evaluators during on-site visits, in line with best practices for Higher Education.”
In order for higher education courses to be offered, a prior authorization act must be issued by the Ministry of Education. These authorization acts issued by the MEC are, chronologically: authorization, recognition and renewal of recognition. National legislation stipulates that such acts will be issued for a fixed period and must be periodically renewed, after regular evaluation. In this sense, the institutional attorney and coordinator of the CPA, Luciana Buksztejn Gomes, explains that PUCRS, as an autonomous university, issues its authorization acts for the offering of new courses.
Once the course is in operation, between 50 (fifty) and 75% (seventy-five percent) of the expected time for completion of the course load, the Institution must file a request for course recognition. Once these two initial phases of entry into the Federal Education System have been completed, a course will then undergo periodic renewals of its recognition.
From the Law on the National Higher Education Assessment System (Sinaes), established in 2004, the renewal of recognition of courses became linked to the triennial application of the National Student Performance Exam (ENADE), which is part of the evaluation cycle in which all higher education courses are included. Thus, Luciana Buksztejn Gomes explains that most courses have their recognition renewed through quality indicators resulting from ENADE – in this case the Preliminary Course Concept (CPC).
“However, even if the course performs well in the CPC, the MEC may determine that certain courses be flagged to receive an on-site visit to verify the conditions under which the courses are offered. Also in this scenario, there are courses that do not participate in the ENADE exam (by a definition of the MEC), which creates the need for courses to undergo regular on-site visits to obtain their recognition renewal”.
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At PUCRS, on-site visits are conducted by PROGRAD. As this is an External Assessment process, the work of the Internal Assessment Committee (CPA) is essential, since the results of these on-site visits provide important support for improving processes at the management level of undergraduate courses. Luciana emphasizes that the Committee plays a strategic role in the assessment of undergraduate courses, including the recognition and renewal of recognition processes carried out by INEP.
“An active CPA indicates that the institution has governance and a commitment to quality, which positively influences the perception of evaluators and, consequently, the final grade of the course.” She also emphasizes that Inep evaluators consult the CPA reports during the on-site visit, so these documents must be prepared with care and transparency, demonstrating that the University is aware of its strengths and weaknesses, that there are plans for continuous improvement and that the academic community participates in the evaluation process. “As a result of all the work carried out, the CPA seeks to act as a link between the academic community and the university’s senior management”, adds Luciana.
