Atribuições e desafios do coordenador de curso de graduação EaD: caminhos possíveis a uma gestão democrática no ensino superior

Abstract

Considering the requirements of the current scenario of changes in higher education to university management, as well as the evaluation of the Course Coordinators as one of the aspects present in institutional assessment tools of MEC, this research investigated what are the mission and the challenges for the EAD Course Coordinators of a Federal Institution of Higher Education from the State of Rio Grande do Sul, in performing this function, in the search for a democratic management in higher education. The research is a qualitative approach and represents a case study, in which data were produced through questionnaires and documentary analysis of the Statute and the General Rules of Procedure of the University. The data had as basis the content analysis, based on four categories: political functions, managerial, academic and institutional. Although the responses indicate that the subjects perform the managerial and policies functions with greater intensity, they allowed to identify functions with emphasis on the four dimensions, showing some similarity between assignments of classroom and distance education Course Coordinators. It is possible to understand that these functions are directly related to the routine and to the dynamics of the courses and the institution, but do not fail to point out possibilities for the development of a democratic management. From the considerations made, the research aims to contribute to the reflection on the management processes developed in higher education, especially for the EAD, and the quality of teaching and learning process promoted in this level of education.