(Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande) – The Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) has released its preliminary results and, for Mato Grosso do Sul, the Dom Bosco Catholic University (UCDB) has been recognised in the Master’s and Doctorate Programme in Local Development, receiving a rating of 7. The news was accompanied by other results, with the Biotechnology and Education programmes receiving an improvement, achieving a score of 6. The results indicate the strengthening and recognition of the scientific research produced at the State Catholic University.
Excellence recognised in three programmes
UCDB proudly celebrates the preliminary results of the CAPES Quadrennial Evaluation (2021-2024), with the figures reflecting the institution’s solidity, academic maturity and commitment to excellence in postgraduate formation. Of the five Postgraduate Programmes at UCDB, three have been upgraded. The Pro-Rector for Research and Postgraduate Studies, Dr Cristiano Marcelo Espínola Carvalho, explained the progress.
This achievement, as assessed by Dr Carvalho, takes on even greater importance considering that only four programmes in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul were classified as excellent in the last four-year assessment, all with a grade of 6. UCDB contributes decisively to strengthening the state’s postgraduate system and to the national projection of scientific production and advanced formation carried out in Mato Grosso do Sul.
The professor then acknowledged the efforts of the educational community. ‘These results are the fruit of the collective and constant work of professors, administrative technicians and programme coordinators who, with great dedication, are consolidating robust, internationalised and socially relevant academic projects. To all those who have contributed to this journey, we offer our sincere recognition and thanks. We remain steadfast in our commitment to strengthening research, high-level formation and the social impact of UCDB’s postgraduate programmes, honouring our institutional mission and reaffirming our commitment to academic excellence,’ she said.
Interdisciplinary approach characterises the programme with a score of 7
The Local Development programme is interdisciplinary in nature and began with the Master’s degree in 1998, strengthening with the Doctorate starting in 2016. The continuity of former students’ participation in research groups and the link with social and market demands were points highlighted by the commission that awarded the programme the highest score.
The “Coleta 2024” report also highlighted the distinctive features of the programme, including the presence of multiple lecturers per discipline, offering students interdisciplinary perspectives. The importance of the dedicated infrastructure was recognised, with a specific wing in block D and seven laboratories specialising in areas such as water sanitation, wastewater treatment, geoprocessing, DATALab and computer science.
Qualified teaching staff and international collaboration
The permanent teaching staff consists of 12 professors. In addition, the programme has a strong correlation between research projects and its regional, national and international level, with collaborations in projects with higher education institutions and organisations in Mato Grosso do Sul, in several Brazilian states and in other countries such as Ecuador, Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, Germany and the USA.
The 7 rating is the result of the commitment shown over the years, with strong dedication from the professors. Approximately 60% of them have been at UCDB since the programme began. The support of the Pro-Rectorate for Research and the entire institution also makes a difference. ‘The innovation we are achieving with the state’s public policies is another important point,’ write UCDB.
Biotechnology and Education achieve a rating of 6
The CAPES assessment brought two other significant results, with the Biotechnology and Education programmes rising from 5 to 6.
The Master’s and Doctorate in Biotechnology presented excellent indicators of qualitative and quantitative productivity and was above average for programmes in the area. Each of its lines of research is oriented towards strategic areas ranging from bioeconomics to the development of innovative technologies for the agricultural and health sectors. The evaluators highlighted these characteristics. Of particular note is the approval and implementation of the National Institute of Science and Technology (INCT) Bioinspir, which involves a consortium of more than 25 institutions, as well as collaborations with start-ups and industries.
The programme’s initiatives reflect the scientific and technological quality of the teaching staff, and the indicators for the area of biotechnology confirm and attest to the very good performance of the teaching staff. Integration with market demands and a focus on the bioeconomy, technological innovation and sustainability make the programme relevant to the region and to national and international needs. PPGBiotec/UCDB shows a high degree of institutional maturity and strong social, economic and cultural impact.
Education consolidates a three-decade tradition
UCDB’s most traditional programme, in Education, has been in existence since 1994, with a Master’s degree. The Doctorate was approved in 2010. Throughout these years, UCDB has been a benchmark in the area. In the current four-year evaluation (from 2021 to 2024), it stood out for its significant progress, highlighting the excellence of the programme, and obtained an expressive concept in the aspects evaluated: proposal, formation and impact on society. The programme presents relevant and high-quality intellectual output, both quantitatively and qualitatively, nationally and internationally.
One of the innovative actions that was positively evaluated was the social inclusion of the programme, especially in the formation of educators in line with its objectives and mission. The diversity of the student profile has had a positive impact on the intellectual output of the programme, broadening the topics covered and contributing to the transformation of the academic and scientific environment.
UCDB also offers two other postgraduate programmes: Psychology and Environmental Sciences and Agricultural Sustainability, both of which received a grade of 4, demonstrating their level of excellence.
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Source ANS – “Agencia iNfo Salesiana”