Use of the Undergraduate Course Evaluation Instrument (IACG) in the simulation of external evaluation for the authorization of on-campus and distance undergraduate programs

Abstract

This study is situated within the context of external evaluation, one of the pillars of the National System for the Evaluation of Higher Education (Sinaes). During her postdoctoral studies in the Graduate Program in Education and New Technologies, the researcher analyzed how a Higher Education Institution (HEI) used the Undergraduate Course Evaluation Instrument (IACG), published in 2017 by the National Institute of Educational Studies and Research Anísio Teixeira (INEP), to simulate the authorization of a distance learning undergraduate course and a face-to-face bachelor's degree course. The research adopted a triangulation methodology, combining document analysis of official databases from the Ministry of Education (MEC) and a literature review integrated with the perspectives of researchers in the field. The results demonstrate that the prior use of the IACG in simulating external evaluation contributes to identifying evidence required by the attributes associated with the indicators of the instrument's three dimensions, in addition to improving the understanding of legislation and the regulatory framework. In conclusion, the objective was fully achieved: the simulation proved to be a strategic practice, capable of strengthening academic management, highlighting the quality of the courses, and promoting alignment with the expectations of the evaluation committee and INEP.