A política de cotas na Universidade Federal do Pará no período de 2014 até 2023 no desempenho acadêmico dos discentes do Instituto de Ciências Biológicas

Abstract

This dissertation analyzes the academic performance and dropout rates of a universe of 2,250 quota and non-quota students enrolled in undergraduate programs at the Institute of Biological Sciences (ICB) of the Federal University of Pará (UFPA) between 2014 and 2023. Using data extracted from SIGAA/UFPA, the General Academic Performance Coefficient (CRG) was adopted as the main indicator, with descriptive analyses, Mann-Whitney tests (U test), and multiple regression models (OLS and GLS) applied to investigate differences in academic performance between quota and non-quota students. The results indicate that although non-quota students presented, on average, slightly higher performance, this difference proved to be statistically insignificant. It is noteworthy that quota students showed progressive improvement in their academic results over the semesters. Biotechnology was the only program in which the U test revealed a statistically significant difference in performance. Dropout rates were higher among non-quota students, particularly in the early semesters. This scenario resulted in a significant financial impact on the institution, with accumulated economic losses exceeding R$40 million in the period from 2014 to 2023, adjusted by the IGPM, highlighting not only the social costs of dropout but also the waste of public resources invested in human capital formation. The “quota” variable showed statistical significance in the regression models, indicating that, on average, non-quota students achieved a CRG approximately 0.29 points higher than that of quota students. Therefore, it is concluded that affirmative action policies not only democratize access to higher education but also represent a strategic investment in the formation of qualified human capital, particularly relevant for the social and economic development of the Amazon region. As a final product, an institutional folder was prepared with the main findings of the research, aiming to support university management in the formulation of inclusive educational policies.