Culture of care in higher education: The university, public policies and Promove-Universitários

Abstract

Although undergraduate education focuses on promoting student development, there are challenges that can unfold into difficulties, suffering and even illness. Therefore, it’s necessary that the student as a person in a contextualized period, both for their future and for society, which requires the construction of an ethical value of care by the academic community. This value can direct and support cultural practices related to decisions in the field of public policy aimed at this population. There are important changes in the democratization of the Brazilian university that support policies of inclusion and student permanence, but there are still challenges regarding the search for effective changes. However, the aspect of caring for the diversity of people who enter the university is still being built. Considering the interventions aimed at promoting skills and repertoires that contribute to interpersonal and academic changes, an integrative literature review theoretical study was carried out, through the analysis of previously published materials of ‘Promove-Universitários’ identified in Google Scholar. Fourteen studies were identified, with publications from 2005 to 2022, in the individual and group, virtual and face-toface modality, with a number of sessions ranging from 12 to 48. The results identify the intervention as an instrument that promotes changes in social skills and mental health of university students, indicating the need for interventional practices aimed at developing skills and promoting health in this population.