Presentation:

The creation of the Graduate Program in Physical Education (PPGEF) at the Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel) is associated with the long-standing experience of the School of Physical Education (ESEF) in offering Lato Sensu graduate courses, with the first edition taking place in 1979. In 2006, the ESEF received approval from CAPES for the establishment of the Master's Program. The first cohort of this program began in March 2007, with only one area of concentration: "Physical Activity, Sport, and School." At the beginning of 2011, with the arrival of new faculty members, the program was restructured and expanded to include two areas of concentration: "Physical Education, Social and Human Sciences" and "Physical Activity, Health, and Performance." In 2013, the program improved its CAPES rating from 3 to 4 in the triennial evaluation (2010–2012), and subsequently, in 2014, the doctoral program was launched, admitting 14 Ph.D. students. With the creation of the doctoral program, it became necessary to establish greater coherence between the areas of concentration and the existing research lines within PPGEF. Thus, in 2014, two areas of concentration were redefined: "Human Movement Biodynamics" and "Human Movement, Education, and Society." The first area included the following research lines: "Human Performance and Metabolism" and "Physical Activity Epidemiology." The second area consisted of "Sociocultural Studies of Sport and Health," "Motor Behavior," and "Professional Training and Pedagogical Practice." In 2018, a third research line, "Physical Exercise for Health Promotion," was created in response to the need for alignment within the Human Movement Biodynamics field. In the latest four-year evaluation, the program received a CAPES rating of 5. The faculty currently comprises 28 professors (19 permanent, 8 collaborators, and 1 visiting professor).

Mission:

The mission of the Graduate Program in Physical Education at the Federal University of Pelotas is to train teachers, professionals, and researchers at the master’s, doctoral, and postdoctoral levels, preparing them with the necessary expertise to work in various Physical Education settings, including higher education institutions, research centers, basic education, and other specialized areas. The program aims to generate scientific knowledge that contributes to the field and has a social impact at local, national, and international levels.

Vision:

The vision of the Graduate Program in Physical Education at the Federal University of Pelotas includes the qualification of teachers and professionals in Physical Education and related fields, as well as the development of outstanding researchers capable of producing relevant knowledge that advances science in Brazil. The program seeks local recognition for its direct and indirect contributions to the theoretical and practical aspects of Physical Education and its areas of application, as well as national and international acknowledgment and consolidation.

Values:

The Graduate Program in Physical Education at the Federal University of Pelotas upholds fundamental values such as social responsibility, befitting a public, free, and socially engaged university that is committed to returning society’s investment. It embraces a critical commitment to the production and defense of science, respect for and promotion of diversity in knowledge production, and the pursuit of academic excellence in preparing professionals for leadership roles and technical-scientific challenges relevant to societal demands. Additionally, the program is firmly grounded in ethical integrity.