Evolution of Higher Education in Rio Grande do Sul in the 21st Century

Abstract

The objective of this work is to analyze, using a descriptive and exploratory methodology (Gil, 2009), the evolution of undergraduate higher education in Rio Grande do Sul, in the period between 2000 and 2022. For this purpose, data relating to the number of Higher Education Institutions, courses, vacancies, enrollees, entrants, enrollments and graduates were analysed. Based on these indicators, one of the results of this study shows that higher education in the state has grown significantly in the analyzed period. This expansion was encouraged by the increase in the offer of vacancies in private institutions and, especially, the growth of the supply of distance learning courses. Another important result is that higher education in Rio Grande do Sul achieved a net enrollment rate of 26.6%, being close to consolidating itself, in terms of access, as a mass system. The data shows greater female representation in higher education in Rio Grande do Sul. Regarding the racial profile, the indicators indicate that there is an overrepresentation of white and, mainly, yellow in relation to the percentages of races that make up the population, shown by Census data. According to the data, although there is still a lot of inequality between races/colors in higher education in Rio Grande do Sul, they decreased in the period analyzed.