PPGEC

Meeting with Master’s Students

On Monday, June 5, at 10:00 a.m., Professor Ivanise met with master’s students who entered the PPGEC in 2022 and 2023. She encouraged students to read the documents related to CAPES Area 46 and emphasized that the sciences should engage in dialogue with society.

She also asked students about their expectations regarding their studies and how the new structure of Basic Education was being addressed in ongoing or planned research. Upon identifying which attendees had previously been scholarship holders in PIBID and the Pedagogical Residency Program, these students were given the opportunity to share their experiences.

The professor inquired about the students’ expectations regarding the PPGEC and its curriculum and asked them to express their views on the development of the courses. Among the program’s characteristics, students highlighted its interdisciplinarity, the opportunities for reflection and critical thinking, and the relevance of the course syllabi.

The master’s students also emphasized the diversity of faculty perspectives on the teaching and learning process, the shared experiences in Basic Education, the concentration of classes at the beginning of the week to facilitate participation by education professionals, and the need to increase the number of scholarships for pursuing the degree. As suggestions for improving the Program, students mentioned the need for greater inclusivity and the possibility of creating UNIFEI outreach centers in other regions to serve a broader audience interested in the PPGEC.

During the meeting, Professor Ivanise commented on the regional disparities in Brazil regarding the distribution of graduate programs in Area 46, noting that some states have more master’s programs than entire regions of the country. She stated that such inequalities should be addressed through public policies and suggested the creation of a forum for master’s students in the Teaching Area in the state of Minas Gerais.

She was also asked by a student about how the Ministry of Education (MEC) has approached teacher education programs with a two-year undergraduate format and how CAPES deals with graduate programs offered through distance education (EaD). Professor Ivanise emphasized the importance of offering graduate courses in a face-to-face format and stated that, although technology-mediated education is necessary, CAPES has not yet regulated master’s programs delivered entirely through distance learning.

The professor also warned about the existence of “predatory journals that promise the publication of scientific articles at ‘reasonable’ prices” and advised students not to accept such offers.

During the meeting, students also raised expectations regarding the future offering of a doctoral program by the PPGEC and presented arguments demonstrating how both the Program and the University have been preparing for this development.

When discussing the importance of maintaining relationships with alumni, Professor Ivanise suggested several initiatives: maintaining an updated database of former students, creating Program pages on social media, and organizing events—such as Science Fairs—that include alumni participation.

At the end of the meeting, students asked whether the educational product is relevant only for professional master’s programs or also for academic ones, prompting a discussion on these two modalities within the Teaching Area.