Análise do processo de implementação da Política Nacional de Assistência Estudantil na Universidade Federal da Fronteira Sul

Abstract

The enactment of Law Nº 14.914/2024 granted a new status to the National Student Assistance Policy (PNAES), expanding its scope and establishing new challenges for its implementation in Brazilian federal higher education institutions. In this context, understanding how these guidelines have been incorporated into institutional practices is essential to assess universities' capacity to achieve the policy's objectives. This dissertation aimed to analyze the implementation of the National Student Assistance Policy at the Federal University of Fronteira Sul (UFFS), identifying the actions developed or underway, the available human, financial, and infrastructure resources, and the barriers influencing this process. This is a qualitative, exploratory study based on bibliographic and documentary research. Data were collected through the analysis of institutional documents, semi-structured interviews with managers from the Office of Student Affairs, and a focus group with staff members involved in the implementation of PNAES at the Chapecó Campus of the Federal University of Fronteira Sul. Participants were selected through purposive sampling, and the data were analyzed using Content Analysis, following the protocol proposed by Bardin (2011). The findings revealed that UFFS has been incorporating the guidelines of the new PNAES through the creation and expansion of student assistance initiatives, demonstrating an institutional commitment to student retention. However, the policy's effectiveness remains constrained by limitations related to regulatory aspects and the availability of human, financial, and infrastructure resources, as well as by challenges involving planning, governance, intersectoral coordination, and bureaucratic processes. It is concluded that the implementation of the new PNAES is an ongoing process whose effectiveness depends on strengthening the university's institutional capacity to translate legal guidelines into integrated and sustainable actions.