Mercosur diplomas recognition at the Federal University of Uberlândia: : integration agents and mechanisms

Abstract

The Common Market of the South Cone (MERCOSUR), was
established by the Treaty of Asuncion, intrinsically linked to concerns related to the region’s economic development. While implementing economic policies, MERCOSUR noticed the requirement to implement new concerns, of which we can highlight education. More specifically, we can work with
the revalidation and recognition of diplomas as a fundamental factor in achieving the objectives outlined by the bloc itself since its creation. Given the experience of revalidation and recognition turns possible considerations
about spaces that are more integrated by the movement of people, essentially workers and students. This paper seeks to analyze the stage at which this thematic axis is and how the Federal University of Uberlandia (UFU) absorbs
the current regulations. Therefore, we sought to analyze the documentation produced by the university, as well as the data provided by the Carolina Bori Platform, which concentrates the procedures for revalidation and recognition of numerous educational institutions in Brazil. It has been noted that the issue is still underdeveloped and depends on the formation of intermittent committees, formed specifically for each process initiated and dissolved
when completed. In addition, the agents and mechanisms existing in the UFU which can, mainly, contribute to the expansion of the recognition of diplomas, were investigated. Thus, the work carried out by Training Program for Internationalization (ProInt) and the existing gaps for carrying out actions concerning the topic under discussion shall be highlighted.

At the end, it was noted that the program demonstrates consistency with the needs posed by regional integration, but has spaces for activities expansion, especially to
overcome bureaucratic barriers and lack of knowledge about revalidation and recognition. Besides, we conclude that it is important to emphasize that the participation of universities, particularly on the matter of accepting
diplomas obtained abroad, has a fundamental importance for achieving regional integration.