History, policies and challenges of graduate studies in Brazil: A look at National Plans

Abstract

This paper examines the trajectory of postgraduate studies in Brazil, since the “Sucupira Report” of 1965, as a fundamental milestone in its regulation and institutionalization. In addition to tracing this history, the paper focuses on the National Graduate Plans, describing the seven plans, from the first, in 1975, to the seventh, still in a preliminary version at the time of writing the paper. In this description, it was sought to specifically examine the focus of each Plan, its main objectives and the advances identified from the previous one. In conclusion, the analysis revealed that the National Graduate Plans have promoted significant advances but still face challenges such as regional inequalities, precarious funding, and the need for greater integration with the productive sector and internationalization.