Professional and political performance of graduates from the Propfessional Master’s degree in Rural Education at UFRB

Abstract

In recent decades, professional master’s degrees in education have gained prominence for their innovative potential in training educators and improving basic education indicators in Brazil. This article aims to analyze the professional and political performance of graduates from the Professional Master’s Degree in Rural Education (PPGEDUCAMPO) at UFRB, highlighting its significance as a training locus for teachers and educators involved in social and union movements in rural areas of Brazil. Over the years, PPGEDUCAMPO has tracked its graduates, allowing the construction of a database on their professional paths and political activities. For analytical purposes, the empirical study involved 77 graduates between 2015 and 2020. The results indicate that all graduates are integrated into the job market, primarily in basic education. They have advanced in their positions or transitioned to new roles after completing the program. Additionally, they have occupied strategic political positions in forums, territorial chambers, and social and union movements and organizations in rural areas at local, regional, and national levels. Therefore, it can be concluded that, contrary to the original proposals of the professional postgraduate model, which emerged from the demands of private companies and the financial market, the Professional Master’s Degree in Rural Education has focused on training teachers and educators from social and union movements in rural areas, whose professional trajectories and careers are committed to defending education in and for the countryside.