A RELAÇÃO UNIVERSIDADE-EMPRESA NAS TRAJETÓRIAS DE MEMBROS DO CONSELHO EMPRESARIAL DO SUL DE MINAS (CESUL)

Abstract

The new economic configurations and contemporary socio-political arrangements require new management systems, continuous innovation processes and strategies that further the organizational growth, considering the sustainable development of business and the region. Universities and companies are considered essential actors in regional development processes. Studies indicate the effectiveness of the relationship between them and state that regional development results from the influence and efforts of exogenous and endogenous elements, articulated synergistically to solve local demands, highlighting the strengthening of institutions and democratic social participation. In this perspective, this paper discusses the university company relationship, in the context of the Southern Business Council of Minas Gerais (CESUL), in which the directors - representatives of companies, public agencies and other organizations of the region of Varginha/MG are participants in the actions of this collegiate body, which investigates and points out specific territorial demands, seeks to improve. collective knowledge and provide opportunities for regional development in southern Minas Gerais. The general objective of the research was to understand the university-company relations in the context of the development of the Varginha microregion, through the histories of CESUL members. The specific objectives were to: identify the directors who have been part of CESUL since its inception; to know the narratives of the directors about their participation in CESUL, to know the meanings attributed to the remarkable events that characterize the university-company relations, present in the narratives of the counselors, and analyze the history of CESUL through documentary sources. Guided by the qualitative approach, with descriptive and exploratory objectives, the research was developed through the biographical narrative method, bibliographic and documentary survey: Unstructured interviews were conducted for data collection. The analyses of the concepts that guide this research - U-E relations, triple helix, regional development, innovation and business councils, documentary data and narratives of CESUL members - executives of the microregion of Varginha/MG, highlight that CESUL is an institution that promotes regional development. The narratives of the interviewed counselors reinforce the contribution of CESUL to return to the academic environment. As executives, they see the barrier of distancing university-company break and envision new opportunities for achievements that enable business and technological advances. It was concluded that bringing educational institutions closer to the productive sector contributes to regional development, corroborates the preparation of people to enter the labor. market and improve the competitiveness of institutions. The interviewees confirm the need and importance of the partnership between U-E, recognize in the activities of higher education institutions the contributions to the formation of more qualified labor, believe in the role of CESUL as articulator and mediator of regional achievements promoted among the actors of the triple helix, even if they signal the need of the Council to be more than a stage of debates, networking and to be promoter of concrete and more punctual actions.