Scientific and technological education: postgraduate courses in action

Abstract

The Masters and Doctoral courses of the Postgraduate in Scientific and Technological Education programme of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil, have the objective form masters and doctors engaged to research, construction and socialization of knowledge in the field of Scientific and Technological Education. The postgraduate students participate in formation activities obligatory and optional, such as disciplines, seminars, national and international events. The aim of this work is present the analysis of answers from postgraduates to the questions that inquired them about affinities with the disciplines studied, research carried out influences and suggestions for master’s and doctoral courses. It is therefore a cut of a broader research, which assessed the impact of these courses on the professional practice of its graduates. As a theoretical and methodological reference adopted the referencialization, an investigative process to comprehension and assesment of educational institutions, about which may result diagnoses and evaluations. The methodological procedures of this process were linked to the case study because the investigations’ scope. According to the answers of the graduates, the disciplines were fundamental to the development of their investigations and to further knowledge in Epistemology. In turn, the investigations provide the majority of masters and doctors moments of self-assessment of their professional activities. And finally, the suggestions of the graduates were directed the implementation of formative activities that encourage closer ties between the university and primary schools.