Get to know "Future-se", a program to increase private funding

The Ministry of Education (MEC) presented this Wednesday (17) a new proposal for financing public higher education. “Future-se” is the name of the program and it allows private companies to also help in public higher education.

For this, the institutions will be able to enter into public-private partnerships (PPPs). With this, they will be able to assign buildings, names, buildings, among others. But first, a public consultation will be held.

Students at public universities will not need to pay tuition. Education Minister Abraham Weintraub declares “No tuition or anything”.

The novelty happens in the same period of the contingency of university funds and according to the National Association of Directors of Federal Institutions of Higher Education (Andifes), this measure reaches around 15% to 54% of the resources that can still be cut in Federal.

What will universities be able to do with the program?

With the “Future-se” program, universities will be able to:

• Make new management contracts, which will have both the University and the Union with the sharing of real estate assets. PPPs, lending, among others, can be done.
• Creation of funds for donation and investment in research, even in the long term. This income can be generated from companies or from alumni.
• Name rights, such as some stadiums that bear the names of insurance companies or banks.
• Create cultural funds, so that there is the possibility of enrolling in one of the main cultural incentives, such as the Rouanet Law and even others.

Before joining the program, the National Congress needs to approve it. Therefore, a public consultation on the “Future-se” will be held. In addition, MEC's ​​legal department will study which points may result in the approval of the project.

About the financial market

According to the MEC, this program is based on several financial market devices. These are included:

•  The MEC claims that 50 billion in lots were donated by the Union. The income would be converted into a fund and the lots transferred to the private sector. The outcome of the process would be the funding fund.
• The MEC declares that all the money will be converted into a fund named “Sovereign Knowledge Fund”. As a result, Private Capital will be able to either invest directly in each institution or join that fund. with that, it would be redistributed to the universities.

The Minister of Education points out that the situation at universities is not good. Weintraub also claims that universities will be charged if they decide to join the program and do not fully comply with it.

“We want to get out of the shackles of Law 8666”

MEC's ​​Secretary of Higher Education, Arnaldo Barbosa, declares that he wants Brazilian education to be the Apex of education. This reference comes from the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency. It promotes Brazilian industrial and agricultural production through fairs and world events.

He also claims that education can be an export product. In addition to talking about “getting out of the shackles of Law 8666, which refers to the Bidding Law. It is seen as a “block” by the manager.

“We need an immediate response!”

During the ceremony, the president of the National Union of Students (UNE), Iago Montalvão, made his statements without using a microphone. He stated that it was necessary to establish a way to return the money to the contingency. Furthermore, he stated that students are open to dialogue but need quick answers.

He also spoke about the importance of public policies for universities. “We need to save the university”, highlighted Montalvão.

Article 207 of the Federal Constitution

Article 207 of the Federal Constitution defends that universities have didactic-scientific, administrative, and financial and asset management autonomy. Therefore, neither the MEC nor the private sector could interfere in the way in which the rectory establishes its plans for teaching, research, extension, etc.

However, Article 213 states that universities have the possibility of receiving financial support from the public authorities in cases of research, extension or innovation activities. However, not mandatory.