Diversity in higher education in Brazil

Abstract

This chapter analyzes how diversity has become a central issue of reflection about the expansion and democratization of higher education in Brazil. It begins by establishing a historical context connected to the actions of the social movements (feminists and blacks) in which the issue of diversity emerged as a problem in this country. The chapter presents the most relevant characteristics of higher education in Brazil, and shows how diversity begins to be treated as a matter of public policy by the federal government. It analyzes how the higher education institutions (HEIs) organized themselves to receive diversity, favoring social inclusion and equity and the action of social groups or social movements, in particular at public university, working on diversity. In order to understand how universities have been reacting and organizing themselves to receive diversity in Brazil, some aspects are further analyzed: the administrative structures for student assistance; faculty hiring; diversity at curriculum and the research field.