Modelos de gestão dos cursos de especialização à distância em uma instituição pública de ensino superior: estudo de caso na UTFPR

Abstract

Distance education is a teaching modality characterized by the interactivity generated by advances in information and communication technology with a view to reducing physical and temporal barriers. Within distance education, there is a wide variety of management models and it is up to managers to choose the one that best fits the reality of the institution, the profile of the student they want to achieve and also the way in which the multidisciplinary team will interact. This research analyzed the distance specialization courses in the different campuses of a federal university, the Federal Technological University of Paraná - UTFPR, with the objective of verifying the existence or not of a predominant management model. It also analyzed whether the existing model(s) is (are) capable of using technology to integrate the management team efficiently and effectively in carrying out the work. This is applied research, with a predominantly qualitative approach, which applied the case study as a research strategy. To achieve the results, we divided the study into eight major areas: EaD policy and culture; pedagogical model; human Resources; choice of media and technologies; organization of the Distance Education Center; course management; production and availability of teaching materials; and student support and care. As a result, it was possible to perceive different models, but with many points in common, especially in older courses. It was also noticed that technology is a constant in the models studied and this technology manages to integrate the management team efficiently and effectively. Finally, a suggestion of a management model based on the institution’s courses was presented, as recommendations of actions for the institution, for the campuses and for the coordinators of the courses, based on the eight major areas presented.