Legal Marks and Higher Education in the 21st Century

Abstract

Amidst the globalization of capital and general globalization processes that permeate worldwide and Brazilian society, higher education came to be understood as the mainstay for social and economic competitiveness in Brazil. In this context, this level of education’s configuration began to suffer strong interference from social, economic and political systems. Facing this situation, this article aims to analyze the evolution and adaptation of higher education in Brazil according to State and market’s directions, as well as the demands of civil society, which stand as hallmarks of educational politics and programs, and which materialize through plans, programs, projects, actions and laws. To accomplish this intent, a qualitative research with a documental approach was performed through examination of legislation, legal orders and other documents produced by national and international organizations related to education, especially in higher level. A bibliographical research was also carried out, based on authors like Cury (2002), Ferreira and Oliveira (2011), Höfling (2001), Mancebo (2004), Sguissardi (2009), Silva Jr. and Sguissardi (2001, 2005) and others, aiming to find grounded theoretical contributions references to help understanding the presented issue. As a result, this study demonstrates that higher education is moving forward in accordance to State, market and civil society’s demands. Thus, public politics towards this education level reveal traces of conflicts of interests of these various actors, and therefore, are not neutral, but permeated with each one’s values and goals.

Keywords: Higher education, Legal marks, Educational politics.