Fusões e aquisições no mercado de ensino superior privado no Brasil e seus efeitos sobre a competitividade das universidades comunitárias e confessionais

Abstract

This thesis analyzes the effects of mergers and acquisitions on the private higher education market in Brazil, focusing on the implications for the competitiveness of community and faith-based institutions. Using a theoretical and empirical approach, it investigates how large educational groups, through expansion strategies and economies of scale, have shaped a scenario of market concentration, particularly driven by Distance Education (DE). The study reveals that, although these transactions expand access to higher education, they also generate competitive asymmetries and threaten the sustainability of faith-based and community-based institutions that are more committed to research, outreach, and regional development. The research proposes that a regulatory framework for DE and differentiated public policies are essential to preserving institutional diversity and ensuring a more balanced competitive environment.