UFRGS (Universidade Federal de Rio Grande do Sul)

About UFRGS

The Institute of Philosophy and Social Sciences of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) was created in 1943. Today it houses five major departments: History, Anthropology, Sociology, Political Science, and Philosophy. The course of Social Sciences was initiated in 1959, adding to the already existent courses of Philosophy and History. The Institute has, therefore, been turning out graduates for nearly sixty years.
 
The Institute has around 260 teachers, over half of them with PhD’s. As a public institution, the course is absolutely free of cost to the students who are selected through an annual competitive exam.
The Institute also has a profound political history. Between 1964 and 1969, during the worst years of the military dictatorship, 33 professors were eliminated, as well as a good number of students.  The experience echoes a tradition of social commitment and combativity. 
The institute has since been active not only in forming new generations of students, but also in the production of knowledge through high-quality research and consultancies. Today, many of the high-ranking officials in government as well as the majority of the history, philosophy and social sciences teachers in smaller universities throughout the state were educated in our institution.
The climate of intellectual debate and analysis of public issues has also been important in training students (often with scholarships and/or student apprenticeships) to work for non-governmental and governmental organisations which contribute to the critical reflection and planning of development programs.
 
UFRGS has around 18.000 undergraduate students and around 6.000 graduate students. The number of faculties is 27, with different undergraduate programs. There are 2.351 faculty members, half of which with doctorates.

Contact at Universidade Federal de Rio Grande do Sul

Name: Carlos Steil
Function: Professor of Anthropology  
 
E-mail Carlos Steil
Website UFRGS