The influence of the macro-environmental factors in the Brazilian private higher education: a multicase study in seven institutions of higher education

Abstract

In the last decade, great transformations could be evidenced in the Brazilian higher education, particularly with regard to the growth of private sector participation. As part of this growth the proliferation of courses and colleges is highlighted, bringing with it the expansion of the number of vacancies which stimulated the fierce competition among institutions of higher education. Therefore, this article proposes to conduct a study of macro-environmental factors that influence the performance of educational institutions that compose it, in order to provide data and information for decision making by the government, group maintainers, institutions maintained, and the academic community. For this, we conducted an exploratory study, of qualitative nature, by means of documental data collection, bibliographic data collection and interviews with managers from seven private higher education institutions nationally recognized. The results showed that there is a strong influence of macro-environmental factors in private institutions of higher education, which should monitor them properly. Managers demonstrated through perspectives and perceptions that such factors represent a major concern for the institutions, responsible for ensuring the failure or success in a market of extreme rivalry and competition.