The Midwestern Parana State University, Unicentro, is one of the seven public Universities linked to the government of the State of Paraná, which began in 1990 from the fusion between the Faculties of Philosophy, Science and Arts of Guarapuava – Fafig and the Faculty of Education, Science and Arts of Irati – Fecli. Unicentro is installed in the central region of the State and has more than 50 municipalities in its coverage region, comprising a population of around 1.5 million inhabitants, offering opportunities for higher education with undergraduate and postgraduate courses, and a wide range of services which provide regional development improvement.
Since 1997, after the fusion recognition process of Unicentro was completed, the institution began its expansion by implementing new undergraduate and postgraduate courses in different knowledge areas. The university currently has 38 undergraduate courses, several postgraduate courses at the lato sensu specialization level, and 17 stricto sensu postgraduate programs, with 17 Master’s degree courses and 8 Doctoral courses.
The undergraduate course in Forestry Engineering at Unicentro was implemented in 1997, located on the Irati campus, 150 km from Curitiba and 100 km from Guarapuava, where the university head office is located. After 10 years of graduation in Forestry Engineering, Capes approved the proposal to create the Postgraduate Program in Forest Sciences (PPGF), initially with the Master’s course. The Program was established with a concentration area called “Sustainable Management of Forest Resources” and two research lines: “Management of Natural Forests” and “Management of Planted Forests”, encompassing the various areas of forest sciences, with a regional approach due to the large occurrence of the Mixed Rain Forest (Forest with Araucaria) and pine and eucalyptus plantations.
From the engagement of the entire academic community (professors, students, public servants and superior administration), improvement in infrastructure, an increase in scientific production and experience acquired by professors in academic mentoring, as well as the demand for a doctoral course in the region, the PPGF submitted the proposal to implement a Doctoral Course. The proposal was subsequently approved in 2013, a moment which coincided with the second Capes evaluation (triennial 2010-2012), when both courses (Master’s and Doctorate) obtained a grade 4 evaluation, with their activities starting in 2014.
The PPGF has great relevance and impact for the region covered by the program (Center-Southern Paraná), being inserted in the Mixed Rain Forest (FOM) or Araucaria Forest domain and close to numerous forest-based companies, which have in turn enabled the scientific production of many dissertations and theses, and consequently publications of scientific articles in national and international journals meeting both PPGF research lines. In addition to the knowledge production, innovation and technology, the qualification of human resources and their insertion in the labor market also stand out, being necessary for regional and national socio-economic development.