The challenge of institutional management for regional development: the experience of the Federal Fluminense Institute

Abstract

This paper presents, as its core issue, an analysis of an experience on working out a territorial representation in the higher management body of the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology, based on the articulation of the scales covered by the TPE-Technical and Professional Education unit named IFFluminense, with headquarters in Campos dos Goytacazes/RJ. The experience was motivated by the fact that there is a mismatch between the mission attributed to this new format of TPE institution, which is to act as an outstanding actor in local and regional development, since its implantation followed criteria of regionalization and hinterland driving, throughout the national territory, and the management structure provided for in the norms and guidelines that preside the institution. In order to contribute to the debate, it presents a theoretical approach to the relationship between territory, development and scales of institutional action, and presents the Federal Institutes (FI) in their capacity as partners in a territorial-based national policy. The analysis of the experience, even though it is embryonic and restricted to the field of management, can contribute to understand the real and necessary possibility of adopting specific scalar arrangements in the pedagogical, administrative and management processes, so that FIs can fulfill their mission as relevant actors in local and regional development processes.