Third Sector Institutions associated to education areas in Brazil and their impact in curricular references for modernizing industrial engineering courses: A case study

The adoption of new technologies associated with the growing digitalization of production processes is calling for a renewal of the competences and skills of professionals, along with changes in the learning paradigms in education systems and institutions worldwide. This study addresses the process of transformation in the structure of curriculum for the programs of Industrial Engineering in Brazil. It analyses the role and activities carried out by a third sector institution that acts as an interlocutor and mediator between governmental institutions involved with the organization, evaluation accreditation of higher education in Brazil (Ministry of Education) as well as with research and private organizations. The study offers an overview of the interaction between these various actors in the development of new academic programs, as well as in the specification of a framework and specific standards for the profession of Industrial Engineering. The joint work of the diverse entities has led to the identification of key standards and knowledge areas to frame Industrial Engineering studies, as well as a knowledge matrix to support the recognition of the qualification in such professional domain.