Continuing a series of meetings to discuss the direction of the University of São Paulo (USP) and receive academic leaders who participate in the electoral process to lead the University in the next quadrennium, 2022-2025, it took place yesterday (10/21), the USP 2022, Challenges and Opportunity, an event organized by USP's Faculdade de Medicina (FM).

The solemn session was held in the Congregation Room and was attended by professors, technical-administrative workers, employees and students, who participated both in person and online and interacted with suggestions for the future of the University and questions about the presented proposal.

The table of honor was composed by Prof. Antonio Carlos Hernandes, Vice-Rector and by Profa. Maria Aparecida de Andrade Moreira Machado, Pro-Rector of Culture and University Extension, aspiring respectively for Rector and Vice-Rector of USP. Prof. Tarcisio Eloy Pessoa de Barros Filho, Director of FMUSP, made the presentation and emphasized that the presence of candidates and the exposure of the rectory project to the entire community of the Faculdade de Medicina is essential.

Prof. Antonio Hernandes highlighted that a “socially engaged university” is the idea that permeates the entire management plan proposed by his slate. He said that this shared process has already started in the current administration, "bringing society into the University of São Paulo and jointly seeking solutions to problems in a general manner is what we want to expand, this virtuous circle, and with that we’ll all gain something”.

Prof. Hernandes highlighted some of the main activities of the management project. The first was in teaching, with the "Aprenda em Ação" (Learn in Action) program, which already exists in the city of Ibitinga and where students have the opportunity to develop everything from conducting historical survey, to recovering memories and performing actions in the health area, "as a way of social responsibility, particularly in clarifying information for the population, and our students have the skills to develop much more”.

Another aspect of the proposal is strategic development, "we hope being able to build a set of research and innovation centers so that we can have the University as a representation in what is its essence, that of research for society and especially for institutions, working with specific themes and making economic development happen", said Prof. Hernandes. He also highlighted the focus on people management, with a selection process defined by each Unit and percentage of vacancies on USP’s total and the extension area, in which he announced a goal of reaching 1 million people registered in dissemination courses and improvement, with classes via digital platform and students from all states of the country.

Prof. Maria Aparecida de Andrade Moreira Machado spoke about the role of Vice-Rector, stating that in recent years several changes have been incorporated to it and that it’s no longer a position to replace the Rector in necessary occasions, having become a more active position of administrative and financial management. "In this aspect, we want to leave you calm, what is written in our work plan was studied and analyzed not only by me and by Prof. Hernandes, but also with people who are helping us to build a present and future history of the University, which we call fiscal responsibility, based on USP's sustainability parameters”.