Federal Center for Technological Education of Minas Gerais in Varginha — Photo: Disclosure / Cefet-MG
Last Friday (25), the law was published that transformed the Federal Center for Technological Education of Minas Gerais (Cefet-MG) into the Federal University of Science and Innovation of Minas Gerais (UFCI/MG). Cefet-RJ also became UFCI/RJ.
The new legislation is already in force, but establishes that the establishment of universities is subject to "the existence of a specific allocation in the general budget of the Union".
According to the Ministry of Education (MEC), in practice, this means that the effective creation of institutions depends on the approval of the necessary resources in the 2027 Annual Budget Bill, under analysis by the National Congress.
The change in Cefet-MG's classification was celebrated by the academic community, which has been working for decades for recognition as a university. In total, the institution offers 44 technical courses, 29 undergraduate courses, 14 master's degrees and seven doctorates.
"The Federal University of Science and Innovation will maintain the courses currently operating at Cefet-MG, from technical to postgraduate, without any discontinuity, at the same time as it will have better conditions to expand vacancies, open new courses, advance cutting-edge research, innovation and the production of scientific and technological knowledge", said the general director of Cefet-MG, Carla Chamon, in a video published on the institution's social networks.
Last year, 14,775 students were enrolled at Cefet-MG, present in nine municipalities in Minas Gerais – Belo Horizonte, Araxá, Leopoldina, Divinópolis, Timóteo, Varginha, Nepomuceno, Curvelo and Contagem. Of the 946 teachers, 71% have a doctorate, and 27% have a master's degree.
In practice, students and employees will be automatically transferred to UFCI/MG. Understand how it will work:
📚 Courses
The idea is for UFCI/MG to offer undergraduate and postgraduate courses aimed at training professionals and specialists in the technological area and specialized teachers for technical and technological education subjects; secondary-level technical professional education courses; and continuing education courses for the updating and improvement of professionals in the technological area.
The institution must carry out basic and applied research in the technological area and extend its benefits to the community, through extension, innovation and service provision projects.
🧑🏽🎓 Transfer of students, teachers and spaces
All Cefet-MG academic units and all courses become part of UFCI/MG, which will have a linked technical school.
Regularly enrolled students are automatically transferred to the university's student body.
All positions and functions, occupied and vacant, belonging to the Cefet-MG staff, will be redistributed to UFCI/MG.
💰 University Resources and Heritage
UFCI/MG's assets will consist of facilities, areas, buildings and equipment that are part of Cefet-MG's assets, in addition to donated or acquired assets and rights and incorporations resulting from services provided by the university.
UFCI/MG's financial resources will include budget allocations from the Union, aid and subsidies granted by public and private entities, eventual revenue from services provided and contracts signed with national and international organizations.
📝 Administration and rectory
The superior administration of UFCI/MG will be exercised by the rector and the university council.
The first rector and vice-rector will be temporarily appointed by the Ministry of Education, during the organization of the university.
It will be up to this rector to establish the conditions for choosing future leaders, who will be appointed by the President of the Republic.
UFCI/MG must submit to the Ministry of Education, within 180 days, counting from the date of appointment of the first rector and vice-rector, a proposed statute.
