UNIVERSITY TEACHING

TRAINING OF ENGINEERS AT THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF FEIRA DE SANTANA

Abstract

This study focuses on university teaching and the formation of engineers at the State University of Feira de Santana (UEFS). The main objective was to understand the process of training bachelor’s degree professors in Engineering at UEFS. The research adopts a qualitative approach, based on the (auto)biographical method. For data collection, narrative interviews were conducted, recorded in audio, transcribed, and analyzed based on the comprehensive and interpretative paradigm proposed by Ricœur (2012) and Souza (2014). The research involved four professors from the university, linked to the Engineering courses, namely: Civil Engineering (Poet of Construction), Computer Engineering (Virtual World), Food Engineering (Alchemist of Flavors), and Biochemical Engineering (Maestro of Molecules). The theoretical framework of the study draws on contributions that address themes such as university teaching, training of engineering professors, teaching experience, the teaching profession, and the institutional teacher training program, especially ProFACE. The results indicate that the professional identities of the professors are shaped by their career paths and professional experiences. The narratives revealed processes of subjectivation, in which each professor expressed their reflections on their pedagogical practice at the university. Additionally, the study revealed the lack of specific training for initial teaching in Engineering courses, a gap that is partially filled by interactions with colleagues and experience gained through university teaching practices at UEFS. Despite the existence of teacher training programs, the participants pointed out the need for greater encouragement and appreciation of these initiatives, acknowledging that, although important, they are still insufficient to meet the demands of teacher training in the university context.