Program History

Created in 1963, the Geography course at UFC was established with the mission of training qualified teachers and researchers, while also contributing to the development of technical staff for planning agencies in the State of Ceará, such as SUDEC, AUMEF, CODEF, ETENE-BNB, and DNOCS.

Between the 1980s and 2000, the Graduate Program in Geography – UFC adopted new strategies aimed at improving the qualifications of professionals and consolidating Graduate Studies in Geography at UFC. In 1987, specialization courses were launched to train highly skilled professionals, notably the courses “Northeast: Regional Issues and Environmental Issues” and “Geoenvironmental Analysis and Assessment Techniques in Natural Resources,” which operated until 1994, serving the needs of institutions and professionals from Ceará and other Northeastern states. These courses attracted professionals from various fields and regions, expanding the scope of training not only in terms of academic levels but also regarding the geographical origin of graduates, who went on to work in universities and public and private institutions across the country.

Graduate Program in Geography – UFC

In 1995, the program entered the field of stricto sensu graduate training with the launch of the interdisciplinary Master’s degree in Development and Environment (PRODEMA), which today, with three decades of history, constitutes a pioneering research network on a regional scale in the Northeast. The entry into the stricto sensu graduate domain also marked the first elements of internationalization, reflected in partnerships with institutions such as the Institut Français d’Urbanisme (IFU), Université de Paris IV, ALFA, WAVES, along with reinforced collaboration with civil society on various fronts, such as supporting the Archdiocese of Fortaleza in the demarcation of Indigenous lands, drafting public policy proposals, and organizing socio-environmental courses and assessments in partnership with NGOs and social movements.

Additionally, investment in Graduate Studies resulted in the creation of the Master’s in Geography, approved by CAPES in 2003 and launched in 2004. The PhD program was approved in 2008 and began in 2009.

Training Professionals

In the context of professional training, the PPGG/UFC strengthened Graduate Studies in Geography nationwide, quickly consolidating itself, as evidenced by strong results in CAPES evaluations. Between 2006 and 2012, the Program received grade 4; from 2013 to 2016, grade 5; and from 2017 to 2024, grade 6, placing it among the best in Brazil.

The implementation of the doctoral program also enabled the creation of classes under the macrorregional solidarity policy between programs, specifically DINTER (UERR/UFRR, from 2015 to 2018, and IFCE, from 2020 to 2025), as well as hosting postdoctoral internships for professors from public and private higher education institutions in Brazil. These initiatives highlight the strong presence of alumni, especially in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).

Regarding the training of master’s and doctoral graduates, in 20 years the Program has awarded 437 degrees, comprising 253 master’s and 184 doctoral graduates. In the 2021–2024 quadrennium alone, the Program awarded 124 degrees (26.22% of the total), with 56 master’s and 68 PhDs. Among the doctoral dissertations, those linked to the DINTER courses stand out: in the previous quadrennium (2017–2020), 15 PhDs were awarded under DINTER/UERR-UFRR, while in the current one, 6 PhDs have already been awarded under DINTER/IFCE.

In terms of postdoctoral internships, the Program has hosted 56 over the past 20 years, 16 of which occurred in the current quadrennium (2021–2024). These internships involved faculty members from institutions such as UPE, UNB, UNILAB, UNIFESSPA, UNEMAT, UEA, UFRN, UERR, UFS, UECE, UVA, UFG, UNESPAR, UESB, UFMA, UFBA, UEL, UERN, IFCE, UEMS, PMF, and URCA, representing multiple Brazilian states, as well as international partners from England and Spain.

As for alumni placement, about 70% of those who pursued graduate studies now work as professors at public education institutions, in addition to Federal Institutes in the North and Northeast regions.

Organization of Scientific Events

Within the scope of PRINT/CAPES, between 2022 and 2023, four international events were organized, with significant participation of the academic community and partner institutions such as UNAM (Mexico), Le Mans Université (France), Universidad de Alicante (Spain), and Universidad de Quilmes (Argentina). These activities fostered deeper networked research, with strong participation of students, alumni, and national partners.

Among research groups, three events stood out in 2024: the II International Meeting of the Wind Energy Observatory, with researchers from Argentina, Italy, France, the United States, and Brazil; the TropiCool Workshop, held with Brazilian, Swedish, and Portuguese researchers linked to the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI); and the IV International Colloquium on Coastal Cities and Tourism, which brought together researchers from the universities of Lisbon, Coimbra, Alicante, and Rome.

In addition, with a focus on Northern Brazil, 2024 saw the International Congress on Landscape Geoecology and Environmental Planning and the International Seminar on 20 Years of Science and Innovation, supported by national institutions (UNIR, UECE, UVA, UFBA) and international ones (CIRAD – France and Uniandes – Ecuador). For 2025, the Program is organizing the VIII Brazilian Congress on Applied Environmental Education and Territorial Management.

National and International Agreements

In terms of international agreements, the Program has strengthened its networks over time. On the one hand, partnerships signed in the 1980s and 1990s stand out, such as CAPES/COFECUB with the Institut Français d’Urbanisme / Université de Paris VIII, and the International Agreement with Université de Paris IV, established in the early 2000s. On the other hand, the Program has expanded its international scope through research projects, postdoctoral internships, and faculty exchanges as visiting professors at foreign institutions.

Regarding visiting professorships, in the current quadrennium highlights include Professor Alexandre Pereira (2021) and Professor Eustógio Dantas (2024) at Le Mans Université (France). In 2024, Professor Eustógio Dantas also served at Université Catholique d’Angers (France). Likewise, in 2023 and 2024, Professors Jeovah Meireles and Edson Silva worked as visiting professors at Universidad de Salta (Argentina).

As for projects, at the request of the Government of the State of Ceará, between 2018 and 2021 the Program contributed to the development of the Coastal Ecological-Economic Zoning of Ceará (ZEEC). The project involved Professors Jader de Oliveira Santos and Adryane Gorayeb, along with researchers from UECE. Furthermore, between 2019 and 2021, the Program played a key role in drafting the Integrated Land Regularization Plans (PIRF) for the Special Zones of Social Interest (ZEIS) of Bom Jardim, Pici, and Poço da Draga. This initiative engaged a multidisciplinary team of sociologists, architects, economists, and legal professionals. Nationally, the Program also stands out for its continuous participation in the Metropolis Observatory Network (2009–present), funded by INCT/CNPq, involving faculty and students in inter-institutional projects.

Regarding innovation projects, the Program has taken part in the Chief Scientist – Environment and Agrarian Development Program, funded by FUNCAP. In 2022 and 2023, the project “Planning, Creation, and Implementation of Protected Areas in Ceará” was carried out, which led to the approval of a new project entitled “Conservation Strategies and Sustainable Development in Priority Areas for Conservation in Ceará” (2023–2025), which is currently ongoing.