Two new innovative environmental academic programs in Brazil

Authors: Nascimento, Luis Felipe; Kiperstok, Asher
Source: Luis Felipe Nascimento, and Asher Kiperstok

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Abstract:

This paper describes two graduate certificate programs in Brazil, one at the Business School of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) and another at the Engineering School in the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA). In the late 1990's the “Scientific and Technological Support Program” (PADCT III), a program of the Federal Government, stimulated universities to develop graduate certificate programs in environmental area. PADCT selected some proposals and financed part of the cost of them. The program of UFBA begun in 1998 while UFRGS in 2000. Both programs require students to complete 400 hours instruction and write a capstone project. Those courses used innovative methodology and interdisciplinary approaches. The Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul developed the course “Clean Production and Eco-business”, and has graduated 30 professionals. Most of them worked in industry, others in consulting or in public organizations. All students implemented a clean production project in a company or developed an eco-business model. At the end of the course, the students presented their projects to professors, colleagues and managers of the companies. The course produced positive results on several levels. At the private level, the companies were satisfied because they reduced their energy and water consumption and thus their costs. At the academic level, a book was written about this experience and training software was developed. The student project results were published in the book. Most of the program graduates have gotten better positions at work, or an increased salary. The Federal University of Bahia developed the course “Management of Environmental Technologies in the Production Process”, and has trained 94 professionals. The students take part in a discussion forum of the environmental problems in Bahia called the “TECLIM Network”. As a result of the certificate program, the first Brazilian part time Master Course in Management of Environmental Technologies in the Production Process was created. Since both graduate certificate programs are successful in Brazil, the authors ask “Why American universities do not offer similar courses?” and “Are those experiences of no value to American reality?”