Private corporations in Brazilian higher education: Implications of new organizational practices

Abstract

This article analyzes the implications of the adopting the corporate governance model in Brazilian educational groups with actions on the stock exchange and how this form of management affects the teaching work. This documentary research adopted a critical perspective, and the data were treated in the light of content analysis. Our analysis verified that corporate governance presents a complex conjuncture, emerging in the educational arena with the purpose of assisting the owners of private higher education institutions in the accumulation of capital. The insertion of new organizational practices aims to increase the profit margins with less investment and in a short period. However, this way to the growth has direct implications in the professional and personal life of the professor, given that is linked to overexploitation of workers, reduction of salaries, and an increasing number of dismissals at the end of each academic semester. In this way, professors are working in an environment of instability and oppression.