Public University Expansion

Higher education policies in Brazil impose a certain standardization of strategies for the operation and expansion of public universities. However, when implemented, the policies become territorialized and the initial standardization brings difficulties in the dialogue with the territory. In this dialogue, local actors are important in leadership and decision-making. Besides the historical distance between the policy design and the regional specificities, this new scenario has problems with the level of maturity of the university and the political interference of local actors. Thus, the process of expansion of the Garanhuns Campus of the UPE was analyzed, focusing on its territorial engagement for development. It was verified that the Campus contributes to development in a limited and circumscribed way to its surroundings. Campus expansion attained goals set by state and federal policies but there is no conscious and planned engagement with its area of influence. Strategies were established based on the power of action and decision of specific actors, resulting in asymmetries in the operation of the campus and in its contribution to local-regional development.