The Postgraduate Program in Public Policy of UECE is the result of the articulation of the Master's Degree in Public Policy and Planning and the Doctorate in Public Policy. Its organizational structure is based on the recommendations of CAPES and on a logistics that favors the articulation of actions of an academic nature (classes, researches and publications), the dissemination and popularization of science (radio, TV, video and blog) and social insertions (ECONCE, CRR, OBSERVE, etc.) The structure of this page seeks to reflect such concern and to make the process of participation of its users easier.

ESC / CFE Opinion 977 of 1965, which rapporteur was Newton Sucupira, provides the conceptual basis for the postgraduate course in academic and doctoral studies. The following text is an updated summary of that document.

The following fundamental characteristics must be present at these levels of course: be of an academic and research nature and, even when aimed at professional sectors, have an essentially scientific purpose. The masters and doctorate courses are a whole part of the university complex, necessary for the full accomplishment of the university’s essential purposes. Thus, the document establishes that, in addition to the "immediate practical interests", the postgraduate course aims to offer, within the university, the appropriate environment and resources for free scientific investigation and where creative gratuity can be affirmed of the highest forms of university culture."  

There are three practical objectives that justify the need to offer high quality and efficient masters and doctorates:  

1. Competent teacher training that can meet the demand in basic and higher education, while ensuring the constant improvement of quality; 2. To stimulate the development of scientific research through the adequate preparation of researchers; 3. Ensure the effective training of technicians and intellectual workers of the highest standard to meet the needs of national development in all sectors.   

At the time, consultants already considered the aspect of innovation as fundamental for the development of the country, just as it is today. Emphasis on innovation in the training of masters and doctors is expressed in the document through the following goal: "to train our own scientists and technologists, especially since the expansion of Brazilian industry requires an increasing number of creative professionals capable of developing new techniques and processes, and for which training is not enough to simply graduate. " 

To ensure the quality of Master's and Doctoral degrees, operational criteria and standards are necessary to direct and control their implementation and development. The authorization, recognition and renewal of recognition of academic master's and doctoral courses are obtained from the results of evaluation and follow-up conducted by CAPES in accordance with the requirements of the legislation - Resolution CNE / CES nº 1/2001, as amended by Resolution CNE / CES nº 24/2002.   

Professional Master's

(Regulated by Portaria MEC Nº 389, de 23 de março de 2017 and by Portaria CAPES Nº 131, de 28 de junho de 2017)

The Professional Master's Degree (PM) is a stricto sensu Postgraduate modality focused on the qualification of professionals, in the various areas of knowledge, through the study of techniques, processes, or themes that meet some labor market demand. Its objective is to contribute with the national productive sector in the sense of adding a greater level of competitiveness and productivity to companies and organizations, be they public or private. Consequently, the proposals for new courses in the Professional Master's modality should present a curricular structure that emphasizes the articulation between up-to-date knowledge, domain of the relevant methodology and application oriented to the field of specific professional activity. To do so, a portion of the teaching staff should be made up of professionals recognized in their knowledge areas of studies because of their qualification and outstanding performance in the field pertinent to that of the course proposal. The final work of the course must always be linked to real problems of the area of activity of the professional-student and according to the nature of the area and the purpose of the course and can be presented in various formats. These specificities of the Professional Master's Degree require monitoring and evaluation to be based on differentiated criteria, defined by the assessment areas, and carried out by a specific subcommittee, even if carried out concurrently with academic programs. To guarantee the quality of Professional Master's degrees, operational criteria and standards are needed to direct and control their deployment and development. The authorization, recognition and renewal of recognition of professional master's degrees are obtained from the results of the monitoring and evaluation conducted by CAPES in accordance with the requirements set forth in the legislation - Resolution CNE / CES No. 1/2001, as amended by Resolution CNE / CES nº 24/2002. 

"Professional Master" is the Master's designation that emphasizes studies and techniques directly aimed at the performance of a high level of professional qualification. It confers, therefore, the same degree and prerogatives, including for the exercise of teaching and, like any stricto sensu postgraduate program, has the national validity of the diploma subject to prior recognition of the course (CNE / CES 0079/2002). It responds to a socially defined need for professional training of a different nature from that provided by the academic master's degree and does not oppose, in any way, the offer and expansion of this type of course, nor does it constitute an alternative for the training of masters by standards simpler or stricter requirements than those traditionally adopted by graduate students. The Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (Capes) is responsible for regulating the offer of professional master's programs through public calls and evaluating the courses offered. 

Normative Ordinance No. 17, of December 28, 2009, aims to regulate the professional master's degree in the scope of the Coordination of Improvement of Higher Level Personnel (CAPES). 

The main highlights of the Ordinance refer to differences in the submission and evaluation of proposals for new courses, specific criteria for the periodic evaluation of professional master's degrees, composition of faculty valuing artistic and technical-scientific production and recognized professional experience and different conclusion works, such as dissertation, systematic and, thorough review of literature, article, patent, intellectual property records, technical projects, technological publications; application development, teaching and instructional materials and products, processes and techniques; production of media programs, publishing, compositions, concerts, final research reports, softwares, case studies, technical report with rules of secrecy, technical operation manual, experimental protocol or application in services, proposal for intervention in clinical procedures or of relevant service, project of application or technological adequacy, prototypes for development or production of instruments, equipment and kits, projects of technological innovation, artistic production; with no prejudice to other formats, according to the nature of the area and the purpose of the course, provided that previously proposed and approved by CAPES. The regulation of the professional master's degree aims at meeting the following needs:   

• To stimulate the formation of professional masters qualified to develop activities and technical-scientific work on topics of public interest; 
  
• Identify potential for local, regional, national and international action by public and private bodies, companies, cooperatives and non-governmental organizations, individually or collectively organized; 
  
• To meet, particularly in the areas most directly related to the world of work and the productive system, the demand for highly qualified professionals; 
  
• Explore areas of latent demand for human resources training in stricto sensu postgraduate courses with a view to the socioeconomic and cultural development of the country; 
  
• To enable and train researchers and professionals aimed at increasing the internal potential of generation, diffusion and use of scientific knowledge in the productive process of goods and services in line with Brazilian industrial policy; 
  
• To know the nature and specificity of the scientific and technological knowledge to be produced and reproduced; 
  
• To explore the social, scientific and technological relevance of advanced vocational training processes, as well as the necessary closer relations between universities and the productive sector.