University-Public Sector interaction and the perception of Unicamp professors: an exploratory study

Abstract

This paper addresses challenges in the interaction between universities and the public sector, with a focus on university outreach at the Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Using an exploratory approach, the research involved bibliographical reviews and a survey, identifying 789 interactions between Unicamp professors and the public sector. There was an emphasis on the work of Biological and Health Sciences with the executive branch, Agricultural Sciences with the legislative branch and, in the judicial branch, a slight preference for Applied Social Sciences and Exact and Earth Sciences. Most respondents (54%) have had interactions in the last 15 years, reporting improvements in public policy processes. In addition, 65% have revised their teaching practices and 59.5% have improved their research due to these interactions. Challenges identified include bureaucracy, obstacles in communication and access to information, and lack of political interest. These findings highlight the complexity and importance of university-public sector interaction in promoting knowledge and contributing to improvements in public policy.