Expansion in Distance Higher Education in Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil, between 2000 and 2012

Abstract

In this article, we analyze the expansion of distance learning courses in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, characterize some types of undergraduate courses which are offered at distance by public and private institutions, and verify the access and equity of these offered courses in different knowledge areas. So far, two stages of the research have been carried out, including the surveying of the expansion of distance education courses in Mato Grosso do Sul state and in Brazil, between 2000 and 2012, through the analysis of data from the Higher Education Census, normative acts, information in the official databases of the Brazilian Ministry of Education (MEC), and institutional data. It is assumed that the expansion analyzed is conditioned by macroeconomic aspects and the form of organization of the Brazilian State, according to the determinations of capital. The results obtained point to the fact that the access to undergraduate courses was effectively instituted, with the offer of courses in all micro regions of Mato Grosso do Sul state, but more effectively in private institutions with focus on few knowledge areas, which does not characterize an effective democratization of this access.

Keywords
Distance Education; Undergraduate course; Expansion; Mato Grosso do Sul state