THE USE OF EVALUATION SYSTEMS FOR THE GRADUATE PROGRAM IN THEBUSINESS FIELD IN THE USA AND BRAZIL

Abstract

The evaluation and accreditation systems of graduate programs have been gaining more and more importance in the development and implementation of graduate program activities. These evaluation systems present various criteria as indicators of quality, and as guides for meeting the objectives and missions of programs. The goal of this research is to describe how evaluation systems have been used to develop graduate programs in the business field in the USA and Brazil. The research was conducted in eight programs: four programs in the USA that are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate School of Business (AACSB) and four Brazilian programs recognized by the Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES). The method used was multiple case study analyses based on the work of Eisenhard (1989) and Yin (2003). For the analysis, we followed the cluster techniques of Miles and Huberman (1994). The results point to the conceptual difference in the use of evaluation systems among program in the USA and Brazil. For example, in the USA, the programs use the system to assure that the mission and minimum quality standards are met. In Brazil the evaluation system is used as a guide to increase and maintain the programs' overall evaluations. Further, in Brazil, the system is used to focus on areas of improve in the quality and the quantity of intellectual production, students rate or performance, and continuous social insertion to achieve the stated goals of the programs and to increase the evaluate score.