Impacts of university expansion in Florestal/MG: residents’ perception

Abstract

This paper aimed to describe the main impacts that occurred with the transformation of a technical school in a University Campus, in the residents’ perception and to identify how they reacted to such impacts. The focus was on REUNI and the university expansion process, as well as the organizational changes that occurred in the city of Florestal/MG. A qualitative descriptive research was performed. Thirty residents of the city were interviewed. Data were analyzed by content analysis. The results indicated that the city grew in economic and demographic terms, but there was also an increase in violence and movement of people. It was concluded that the reaction of the residents of the city of Florestal was of acceptance of the changes, interspersed by a nostalgic discourse regarding the quiet and peaceful city.