THE PERCEPTION OF THE PROFILE OF GRADUATES IN RELATION TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND THE INTERFACES OF THIS TECHNOLOGY WITH OTHER AREAS OF THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION COURSE AT UFRRJ

Abstract

This article discusses the results of a study that mapped the connection between concepts related to Information Technology (IT) and the Public Administration (PA) courses at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ). It presents the perceptions of students, alumni, faculty, and administrators regarding the existence of this connection and its importance for the program and the profession. This quantitative and qualitative, exploratory, case study aimed to analyze the mapping of interfaces between the contents of IT courses and other courses in the UFRRJ Public Administration course, using mind and conceptual maps. The study subsequently aimed to develop a collaborative framework to strengthen the identity of public administrator graduates regarding IT skills and competencies. The results indicate a predominance of strong connections between IT content and PA courses, according to all participants. However, in the professors' view, some IT courses and concepts presented weak connections. Notably, all students and alumni agree that IT is important to AP, and most administrators consider it very important, reaffirming the need for IT in the curriculum. The results suggest the need to modify the analytical program for IT courses, adjusting objectives, content, and nomenclature to reflect the competencies and skills identified in the constructed framework. Adjusting methodological strategies to encourage student achievement and continuing the research to expand the number of respondents is also recommended.