This study analyzed the perceptions of residents of São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil, regarding the city’s public universities. A total of 454 participants took part in the study, including local community residents and students from public and private high schools. The quantitative investigation was based on a previous qualitative study and addressed five dimensions: comparison between public and private higher education institutions, learning environment, benefits to the city, the university as a social right, and idealized views of the university. The results indicated predominantly positive perceptions of public universities, but also revealed differences among the groups investigated and gaps in their understanding of the universities’ teaching, research, and extension functions. The findings highlight the need to strengthen communication and engagement between universities and society in order to foster a more comprehensive understanding of the social role of public higher education institutions.
Date of publication
Sep 30, 2026
pt
Category:
Article
Public Universities from the Perspective of Residents of São Carlos (SP): A Brazilian Study
by
Dr Daniel Matheus Silva
,
Dr Franciani Cássia Sentanin
,
Dr Kenia N. Parra
,
Ana Cláudia Kasseboehmer