Studies about the University

About

The space for debate on higher education has interlocutors at the local and international levels. It reinforces that it is urgent to deepen crucial aspects of higher education such as: the diverse cultures present there, relations with society, administration, funding of actions, and teacher qualification. The goal is to follow and evaluate the ongoing modifications and, mainly, to adapt the Brazilian university to the standards of excellence required worldwide. The group understands the need to produce consistent and rigorous knowledge that is capable of questioning the Cartesian rationalism, while favoring other epistemic and non-hegemonic methods, but with a long philosophical tradition. The question that guides the group work is the following: is it possible to sustain research objects in Arts, Humanities, Science and Technology, and Health without subjecting them to the restrictions of the Cartesian epistemology?

Repercussion

At their 1st research seminar, in 2007, the group received Prof. Miguel Nicolelis (from the Duke University), Prof. Sidarta Ribeiro (from the International Institute for Neuroscience of Natal), and Prof. Ramon Ferrer i Cancho (from the University of Catalonia, Spain). The seminar was funded by FAPESB. Theses and dissertations have been produced in this area. The courses “Non-Cartesian Epistemologies” of the GP in Performing Arts and “Epistemology of Psychology” of the GP in Psychology are offered to discuss the repercussions of our findings. Published works on this theme have given a greater projection to the group's studies, arousing the interest of researchers and students. Between November 19 and 24, 2012, we received Prof. Gilles Bibeau, an emeritus professor from the University of Montréal. He worked with the group on "New Humanism for the 21st Century" and "The theoretical-methodological approach: system of signs, meanings, and practices in ethnography”.