Accommodating the growing demand for higher education in Brazil : a role for the federal universities?

This study examines three broad issues of concern on the subject of higher education in Brazil. In the first place, the report examines the projected growth in demand for higher education, analyzing viable policies for the federal universities to absorb some of this growth, within the present constraints in public resources. Following, the report focuses on the feasibility to fund future growth in higher education, diverting public resources currently provided to federal universities. Consequently, this leads to the third issue of concern, i.e., ensuring that access to federal universities is expanded for students below average family incomes. The study suggests Brazil should be in a position to approach this issue strategically, more so than most countries have thus far.