CHALLENGES OF THE UNIVERSITY TRAJECTORY IN BRAZIL: REPORTS OF THE FIRST GRADUATES OF THE FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF AGRESTE DE PERNAMBUCO (UFAPE)

Abstract

The article discusses the university trajectories of the first graduates of the Federal University of Agreste de Pernambuco (UFAPE). The institution, created in 2005 as an Academic Unit of the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, in the context of REUNI, played an important role in the democratization of higher education, offering access to quality public education in the interior of the state of Pernambuco. In order to understand the experiences of these students, the study analyzes elements such as academic daily life, teachers, classes, projects, challenges and contributions of the university to professional and citizenship training. The research used a qualitative approach and the methodology of Oral History, adopting a case study to investigate the trajectories of the first graduates of the Federal University of Agreste de Pernambuco (UFAPE). With a focus on understanding lived experiences, data collection was carried out through interviews with open questions, analyzed based on the content analysis methodology, which allowed categorizing and organizing the significant elements (Bardin, 2011). The interviewees' testimonies highlighted moments of overcoming and coping with difficulties. They reported that the institution, through its organization, professors, employees, institutional programs and policies, played an essential role in stimulating the training, permanence and completion of the courses, evidencing the relevance of these elements in the university environment. The survey demonstrated how access to higher education was a significant milestone in the lives of the interviewees, especially for those from lower classes. The reports showed that factors such as social relationships, participation in academic activities and the support of professors were essential for the trajectory and completion of the courses. The research reinforces education as a crucial tool for building a more just and egalitarian society.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56238/sevened2025.001-004