The uneven expansion of engineering in brazilian higher education (2011-2017)

Abstract

Analysis of the expansion of engineering in Brazilian higher education. Between 2011 and 2017, engineering was among the areas with the greatest expansion in Brazilian higher education. This study analyzes whether this expansion process led to a higher or lower concentration of graduates within its specialties. Using the Brazilian Higher Education Census from 2011 to 2017, the analysis showed that engineering programs expanded unevenly. It was identified that only two specialties in the private sector accounted for 60.1% of the expansion in engineering. In the public sector, the expansion was smaller and occurred in a balanced manner across specialties. The analysis at the specialty level revealed that the expansion occurred through two dynamics: concentration of graduates in a few specialties in the private sector (isomorphism) and greater institutional differentiation between public and private institutions (differentiation).