PUBLIC UNIVERSITY EXPANSION AND ITS IMPACT ON THE LOCAL ECONOMY: MICRO EVIDENCES OF UFF'S CAMPUSES EXPANSION IN VOLTA REDONDA

Abstract

This paper aims to evaluate the economic impacts caused by the expansion of the Universidade Federal Fluminense - Volta Redonda (UFF-VR). Currently counting with two campuses in the city of Volta Redonda, the UFF-VR was directly benefited by the REUNI that extended access to higher education in public universities throughout the country. The literature review included studies on the university's economic impact on the local economy, the REUNI, the socioeconomic profile of the city of Volta Redonda and the evolution of the two UFF-VR campuses. In order to carry out the research, we used as methodological procedures: (i) a survey of 1409 UFF-VR students, in order to identify the values spent by these students in the city of Volta Redonda (UFF-VR); (ii) mapping of the salary mass of UFF-VR faculty and staff; (iii) identification of the expenses of costing and investment of these units. The most relevant results of the study indicate that the two campuses attract more than 1,270 students from other cities and employ 305 servers, having injected into the local economy in the year 2013 approximately R $ 67,749,256 per year which represents 0.74% of GDP of the municipality.