The obsession for excenllence: world class Universitities in Brazil?

Abstract

This article, which is part of a doctoral thesis, analyzes the approximation / convergence of Brazilian higher education to the 'global trend World Class University' or University of Excellence / of World Class considering the outlines of policies, programs and Institutional Development Plans of the universities
since the decade of 2000. Some questions that guide the discussion undertaken, beyond the title of this article, are: Brazil, via its HEIs (Higher Education Institutions) or some of them, is in the 'race' to reach the status of excellence or world class in the wake of this global trend? To what or where does this movement indicate? Which universities claim to fit this model? In order to answer these questions, in methodological terms, the collection of bibliography and data and documentary analysis was undertaken, considering the comprehension of the historical and social totality, with its structural and conjunctural constraints. It is concluded that, while on the one hand the merchandising of higher education reaches exponential levels, initiatives to promote 'World Class' status, especially in the context of internationalization and induction of strategic areas, show that the country is also focused in the 'race for excellence', despite aspiring different arrival points compared to prestigious
universities worldwide. Thus, although some Brazilian institutions are more advanced in terms of organization and directions to world-class standards, the model is seen as a horizon to all, which has been understood as the propagation of an 'ideology of excellence'.