Desafios da assistência estudantil na Universidade Estadual do Piauí

Abstract

This interdisciplinary research establishes a dialogue between different areas of knowledge, especially Education, Sociology, and Social Work. The object of study is the Student Assistance programs of the State University of Piauí (UESPI), a higher education institution of great relevance in the state of Piauí. The guiding research question is: What actions make up student assistance at UESPI, and how do they contribute to student retention and the quality of academic training?Accordingly, the research aims to analyze the actions that constitute student assistance at UESPI, assessing their impact on student retention and the quality of academic training. To achieve this, in addition to situating student assistance policy within the context of Brazilian higher education, it was necessary to investigate UESPI’s history and examine the actions developed between 2022 and 2024, based on the perceptions of students and university administrators.The methodology adopted follows a qualitative approach, combining bibliographic, documentary, and field research. The data collection procedures included the analysis of laws and institutional documents, a literature review of relevant authors and researchers in the field, the application of questionnaires, and the conduction of semi-structured interviews with UESPI stakeholders. The questionnaires were distributed to students via email and WhatsApp, resulting in 48 responses. In addition, six students and one administrator — who worked at the institution between 2022 and 2024 and has at least three years of affiliation with UESPI, including the studied period — were interviewed. The results indicate that, despite some progress, student assistance policy at UESPI remains limited, with a predominantly material focus. There is an urgent need to expand the programs, increase the number of beneficiaries, and integrate student assistance with the university’s threefold mission — teaching, research, and extension — as a strategy to ensure quality retention, especially for students from affirmative action backgrounds and those in vulnerable situations. Despite the observed limitations, the aid provided represents a fundamental support for many students, being, in some cases, their main or only source of subsistence. In general, students express satisfaction with the institution and feel happy to be part of it, which reinforces the perception of a welcoming institutional environment and healthy interpersonal relationships, even though significant weaknesses still need to be addressed.