Challenges and practices in the management of Brazilian Higher Education public dormitories

Abstract

The management of dormitories implies overcoming challenges related to physical, human, and financial resources to guarantee decent housing conditions. This research sought to identify the operating dynamics and map management practices used in Brazilian public university housing. Twelve housing managers from the five Brazilian regions participated in this research. Semi-structured interviews were conducted. The analysis was performed via the Descending Hierarchical Classification (Iramuteq), resulting in two axes and four classes. Axis Sustenance covers issues related to student survival and is divided into classes: Access to assistance and Physical structure. The Coexistence axis brought together a greater concentration of classified text segments and comprises challenges involving human relationships and the coping practices used, which are divided into classes: Reception and mediation and Well-being promotion. The analysis of Specificities (Iramuteq) made it possible to identify that student housing managers located in capital areas give greater focus to physical structure, whereas in inner cities, attention is paid to aspects of student vulnerability. This research contributed to understanding the challenges faced by student housing managers and different management practices.

Social Psychology; University Administration; Student Housing