State University of Maringá
The State University of Maringá is a public state university based in Maringá, in the southern Brazilian state of Paraná. Founded in 1969 and officially recognized in 1976, UEM serves as a leading institution in teaching, research, and extension throughout the region.
History
UEM was established by State Law No. 6.034, on November 6, 1969, through the integration of existing higher education institutions: the Faculties of Economic Sciences, Law, and Philosophy, Sciences and Letters. It was organized as a public foundation by State Decree No. 18.109 on January 28, 1970, and later received federal recognition via Decree No. 77.583 on May 11, 1976. UEM transitioned into a public autarchy in 1991 under State Law No. 9.663.
From its earliest years, the university expanded its academic offerings and territorial reach. In 1986, regional campuses were established in Cianorte and Cidade Gaúcha, followed by additional campuses in Diamante do Norte, Goioerê, Umuarama, and Vale do Ivaí in Ivaiporã.
Campus and Structure
The main campus covers approximately 1.24 million m² in Maringá and hosts administrative blocks, classrooms, laboratories, libraries, a music school, a sports complex, museums, a publishing house, research support facilities, a hospital, a veterinary clinic, and units such as the Universidade Aberta à Terceira Idade . UEM has six regional campuses and maintains research and extension centers in Iguatemi, Porto Rico, and Floriano.UEM’s governance includes:
- The University Council , the institution’s highest deliberative body, chaired by the rector and including representatives from faculty, staff, students, and the community.
- The Council of Teaching, Research and Extension , a key advisory and deliberative body for academic policies.
Academics
Today, UEM offers:- Approximately 69 in-person undergraduate programs and 7 distance-learning programs.Pós-graduação stricto sensu comprises around 70 programs, including 44 master’s and 26 doctoral courses.Lato sensu specialization offerings total about 56 courses.
Research, Innovation, and Internationalization
UEM is recognized as the state university in southern Brazil with the highest volume of research activity and ranks fifth nationally by research output. Key research metrics include:1,267 scientific initiation projects, with over 1,100 student participants.624 faculty-led research projects and 238 research groups registered with CNPq.- Infrastructure support through 442 laboratories, 146 faculty productivity grants, and a pipeline of patents and intellectual property, including 16 granted patents, 30 registered software, and applications for brands and patent filings.
Community Engagement and Cultural Outreach
UEM’s health complex, anchored by the Regional University Hospital of Maringá, provides extensive public healthcare services including pediatrics, surgery, obstetrics, and emergency care, benefiting over 60,700 individuals annually and managing extensive lab tests, donations, and patient admissions.Extension and cultural activities reach a broad audience:
- Over 663,000 individuals reached via extension projects.63,948 beneficiaries across 332 extension events.23,800 participants in 138 cultural initiatives involving theatre, music, visual arts, and more.
- Institutional arts groups include chorals, museums, dance and theater groups, orchestras, and visual arts collectives.
The Núcleo de Pesquisas em Limnologia, Ictiologia e Aquicultura , founded in 1983, conducts long-term ecological research on aquatic ecosystems, notably through monitoring riverine environments including the Paraná River floodplain.