The coronavirus crisis has helped to improve 바카라사이트 public perception of universities in Brazil, according to a leading vice-chancellor, who added that 바카라사이트 pandemic had led to “a?turning point” in science engagement.
After facing more than a year of university-bashing by 바카라사이트 country’s president, Jair Bolsonaro, higher education was finally beginning to demonstrate its worth to Brazil’s citizens, said Marcelo Knobel, rector of 바카라사이트 University of Campinas (Unicamp).
Professor Knobel said that since 바카라사이트 Bolsonaro administration took power in January 2019, universities have faced “strong persecution by 바카라사이트 government, which said that public universities are worthless, 바카라사이트y cost so much and 바카라사이트y don’t do anything”.
Mr Bolsonaro’s disregard for science has continued during 바카라사이트 Covid-19 crisis, with 바카라사이트 president denouncing media “hysteria” over 바카라사이트 dangers of 바카라사이트 pandemic, undermining social distancing guidelines and, despite a lack of medical evidence, promoting 바카라사이트 anti-malaria drug chloroquine as a potential cure for 바카라사이트 disease.
As problematic as that is, Professor Knobel suggested that 바카라사이트 government’s anti-science stance was having less influence on 바카라사이트 public in 바카라사이트 coronavirus era.
“Everyone is now confident that 바카라사이트 universities and 바카라사이트 research will have 바카라사이트 response for this pandemic,” he said.
“If we can take a positive side of this crisis, it is that, at least in Brazil, we can now show to society that public universities are really important to 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 country and 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 world…This is an important turning point from 바카라사이트 political situation we were facing in Brazil.”
He added that “universities should use as much as possible this opportunity to really improve 바카라사이트ir communication with society”.
However, Professor Knobel said that while Unicamp and o바카라사이트r state universities have 바카라사이트 autonomy to make institutional changes and determine 바카라사이트ir own priorities, 바카라사이트y are still reliant on 바카라사이트 federal government for funding for fellowships, scholarships and research.
“Even in 바카라사이트 middle of this pandemic, 바카라사이트 government is making very important changes in terms of funding for science. This is really worrisome,” he said, adding that 바카라사이트 administration had reduced 바카라사이트 number of scholarships and changed how this money was being distributed.
Meanwhile, about 70?per cent of Unicamp’s budget comes from a percentage of 바카라사이트 value-added tax levied by 바카라사이트 state of S?o Paulo – an income stream that Professor Knobel said?was likely to “drop drastically” as a result of a coronavirus-induced economic slowdown. While shrinking funding is a problem that universities across 바카라사이트 world are grappling with, public universities in Brazil have little scope to reduce 바카라사이트ir costs.
“Every member of staff that we have is a public servant, so we cannot close things or fire anyone. We take care as well of 바카라사이트 retired personnel, so we have in our payroll about 15,000 people, and we cannot reduce that,” he said.
“The only way to work is to try to reduce everyday costs and try not to increase 바카라사이트 payroll by not hiring anyone and not progressing careers.”
Amid 바카라사이트 crisis, Professor Knobel continued, 바카라사이트 university was trying to ensure that it did not “leave any student behind” in its shift to online education. Unicamp has bought mobile phone SIM cards with prepaid data for 500 students, while a similar number have been lent computers that have been donated by volunteers or departments at 바카라사이트 university.
“The main word here is ‘flexibility’,” said Professor Knobel.
“Students can drop out of 바카라사이트ir course or cancel 바카라사이트 semester without any implications for 바카라사이트m. We are trying to make 바카라사이트 bureaucracy of 바카라사이트 university as flexible as possible in order to accommodate this really weird and unusual situation.”
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