Interação do ensino superior com o setor produtivo em regiões periféricas: uma análise das ações do Instituto Federal do Tocantins no campo da extensão acadêmica

Abstract

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are fundamental actors in the innovative and socioeconomic development process. The discussion inherent to the performance of these institutions beyond teaching and research is housed in the theoretical approach called “third mission”, which takes effect when the HEI goes beyond its “own walls”, through the carrying out of interactive activities with external actors, in a socioeconomic, cultural, environmental perspective, etc. Although third mission academic literature is made up of a diversity of studies, both nationally and internationally, it is not a fully consolidated field of research. It is necessary to better characterize the third mission in peripheral regions and, above all, understand the role of academic extension in this process. Taking advantage of this theoretical need, the present study established the following research problem: how is it possible to characterize the third mission of a higher education institution located in a peripheral region, based on the academic extension offered by it in the productive sector? The Federal Institute of Tocantins (IFTO), a higher education institution located in a peripheral region, was chosen to carry out the empirical research, focusing on the academic extension developed by the IES. The objective that guided this research was the following: to understand the process of engagement of the Federal Institute of Tocantins in third mission activities, based on the academic extension offered by this HEI in the productive sector. Regarding methodological procedures, a case study was carried out, with a qualitative approach, of a basic nature. From the point of view of objectives, it was an exploratory and descriptive research. Two instruments were used for data collection: document analysis and agenda interview. The documentary analysis consisted of 36 extension projects offered and completed between 2019 and 2022, in addition to other normative documents and guidelines for the HEI's extension policy. The IES Pro-Rector of Extension, the coordinators or Technical Managers of the extension sectors on the campuses and the proponents of extension projects whose direct beneficiaries were members of the productive sector participated in the interviews. The data was explored through content analysis, following the teachings of Bardin (2016) and Franco (2005), with the support of NVivo 14 Software. Through the results found, it was possible to conclude that academic extension has been a very important dimension in carrying out the third mission of the IES. This is a third heterogeneous mission, both in relation to the activities carried out and in relation to the forms of connection. It follows an essentially supply-side logic, due to the fragility of demand. The external actors in this interaction are, for the most part, made up of the productive sector of the agribusiness sector, which is a characteristic very present in the economic activity of the location where the institution analyzed is located. Some critical points deserve attention, aiming to strengthen the interactions between the IES and the productive sector: improving the incentive system for internal actors; improvement of the interaction governance policy, mainly regarding some of its principles (transparency, more active participation of stakeholders, regulatory improvement); greater appreciation of academic extension, including with regard to financing this dimension. For future studies, it is suggested to complement the results found in this research, through the presentation and analysis of the perception of external actors (productive sector), which are linked to the institution in the field of academic extension.