DEMONSTRATING INNOVATION IN THE INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS OF COMMUNITY-BASED HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN SANTA CATARINA

Abstract

Over the last two decades, the role of universities has transformed. Previously, their focus was on teaching, research, and knowledge creation. Currently, a new role has been adopted: that of promoting regional socioeconomic development. Given this, the possibility arose of conducting a study that could highlight the universities' concern regarding the adoption of innovation as part of their Institutional Development Plan (IDP). The present study, therefore, had the general objective of identifying the level of evidence of innovation in the Institutional Development Plans (IDPs) of Community Higher Education Institutions (CHIs), focusing on the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. It is characterized as a quantitative, exploratory, and descriptive study, and from the results, it was possible to identify two CHIs whose levels of evidence stand out in relation to the other CHIs selected: UNIVALI and UNESC. The study also identified evidence of regional innovation, obtaining results that accompanied an individual analysis, with particular emphasis on the mesoregions of Vale do Itajaí and Southern Santa Catarina. Considering that our objects of study are for the CIEM (Centers for Innovation and Entrepreneurship) of Santa Catarina, it is possible to have new studies that can be comprehensive and comparative outside of Higher Education institutions, within or outside the state, or even suggest a deeper research on how to demonstrate innovation in the CIEM of Santa Catarina based on an in-depth investigation of the objects of study presented or others. Therefore, it is essential that progress is made when it comes to power, as it constitutes the impetus for the "university" helix, capable of offering important contributions to the community when it is integrated.