Expectations and Evaluations of Graduates of a Course in Tourism Conductor in a Conservation Unit in the Tourist Pole Chapada das Mesas (MA, Brazil)

Abstract

Professional education in Brazil became official in 1909, having reached more than a century of existence and, throughout its trajectory, has gone through different forms of organization and modalities in its offer, among which, currently, the Ongoing Initial Training (FIC) modality. In terms of the modality in question, it has been offered by the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Maranhão (IFMA), Carolina Advanced Campus. Concerning the tourism segment, the mentioned campus offers the Course of Tourism Conductor in Local Environmental Conservation Unit (CTUCAL). The expectations and evaluations of the graduates of this course were considered a research problem. Thus, the objective was to analyze the expectations of the graduates of the course in question, with a view to what they expected from the course (when joining) and assessments (when paying). In methodological terms, in addition to the use of descriptive research techniques, textual analyzes were applied, with a qualitative approach. As a data collection instrument, questionnaires were used, with open questions, applied to the graduates of that course. For the treatment, analysis and interpretation of data, textual statistics resources were used, through the IRamuteq software. The results of this research revealed that the methods systematically applied (theory and practice) during the course represented a pedagogical solution in the learning process, being a useful tool in the acquisition of knowledge, given that the students were included in field activities, enabling, thus, the establishment of relationships between the contents covered in the classroom and the possibility of its application in future professional practices of the Tourism Driver in a Conservation Unit. In fact, the practical nature of the course was one of the points highlighted by the graduates, culminating in exceeding their expectations.