Federal University of Sergipe
The Federal University of Sergipe is a Brazilian public institution based in Sergipe, with campuses in São Cristóvão, Aracaju, Itabaiana, Laranjeiras, and Lagarto. Founded in 1967 by the junction of the state's existing colleges, it became its second university and its first public one. It became the state's most reputable and competitive higher education institution, ranking among the country's 40 best universities and Latin America's top 200 list.
History
Following national education reforms, the university became a new, unified campus in São Cristóvão throughout the 1980s. In 1987, the fully transferred UFS inaugurated its new campus, which became the institution's headquarters. During the 1990s, after the creation of 45 new undergraduate courses, there was an emphasis on technology and academic specialization: the Pólo de Novas Tecnologias and the Programa de Qualificação Docente were formed. During this time, the university started its first master degree programs through the Department of Post-Graduation and Research. Independent scientific thinking was promoted by the Programa de Iniciação Científica, a partnership between the UFS and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development.Since 2004, the UFS expanded again, based in the government's Luiz [Inácio Lula da Silva#Presidency|new social policies], which combine new courses, curricula expansion, reform, and expansion of infrastructure. Though generally praised for its scope, the Expansion Program is criticized for its execution, permeated by bureaucracy and enormous personnel costs, and efficiency. In 2012, the university had a total of 107 courses across six centres.
Admissions
Like most Brazilian universities, admissions to UFS undergraduate courses are made by completing the Vestibular exam. Until 2011, the university independently commissioned the exam from Fundação Carlos Chagas and performed it over four consecutive days: three for each level in Brazilian secondary schools and one for writing.Like most exams in other public universities, the questions do not present a particular level of difficulty; vacancies are the decisive factor for selection, given the process' competitive nature. In 2010, 28,340 students competed for 4,950 vacancies. Unlike admission systems seen in United States, in which the student chooses their line of study usually one year after their matriculation, enrollment to a course happens before the exam, and the student only competes for vacancies in the chosen course. Since 2012, UFS has adopted the Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio as its only form of admission.
In 2007, the university adhered to the controversial racial quota system, designating half of its vacancies to public school black students. The decision was added to the ongoing national controversy questioning the system's constitutionality. In 2012, Brazil's Supreme Court declared the quota system to be legal, and it was passed into law after President Dilma Rousseff's sanction.
Primary and secondary education
Aside from its higher education curricula, the UFS also ministers primary and secondary education through the Colégio de Applicação, comprising 550 students: 210 primary and 240 secondary. The school was founded in 1959 as part of the Sergipe College of Philosophy and was incorporated into the university in 1968. It was transferred to São Cristóvão Campus in 1981 but remained without a proper building until 1994.The CODAP is the university's take on non-higher public education, a historically deficient system in Brazil. Aside from the usual curriculum, the school invests in extension programs and the Projects for Scientific Initiation. Its academic staff comprises 30 permanent and 7 temporary teachers, plus 18 employees in the administrative staff. The school ranks as the State's and one of the country's best public schools: in 2012, it had the country's seventh and the State's best primary public education according to the Índice de Desenvolvimento da Educação Básica. In 2010 and 2011, the ENEM ranked its secondary education as the state's sixth-best, being the only public school among the top ten.
Rankings
UFS Law School is recognized as one of the country's best, ranking among the four best results in the Order of Attorneys of Brazil Exam from 2009 to 2012. In 2012, the Law School received the OAB Quality Seal, given only to those with consistently exceptional performance in the exam.Veterinary hospital
The Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Sergipe is a Brazilian Public University Veterinary Hospital situated in the Sergipe city of São Cristóvão.The hospital, founded in 2015, will provide veterinary care. and will have five surgical centers and will offer x-ray, ultrasound, tomography, radiology and electrocardiogram services. It will have hospitalization and rehabilitation rooms, as well as space for practical classes in the Veterinary Medicine course.