Performance of civil engineering graduates from the Federal University of Grande Dourados in the National Student Performance Exam – 2019 and 2023 editions

Abstract

The National Student Performance Exam is administered to graduating students of undergraduate courses in Brazil and is divided into four components: the Student Questionnaire, which gathers information about the participants’ personal profile; the General Education Component, which assesses the level of knowledge regarding national and global realities; the Specific Education Component, which evaluates the development of professional skills and competencies required of graduates; and the Test Perception Questionnaire, in which participants evaluate the exam itself. This study analyzes the ENADE editions applied in 2019 and 2023 to Civil Engineering graduates, including students from the Federal University of Grande Dourados (UFGD). The focus was to assess the performance of the program’s students in comparison with participants at the state, regional, and national levels. Performance data provided by the Ministry of Education showed relatively good results for the program’s students, since their average scores were higher than those of graduates in the state, region, and country, although overall performance was below expectations. The study points to two main reasons for the low overall performance: the different approach to course content and the lack of motivation to take the exam. Actions carried out by program coordinators—such as including ENADE-like questions during the training period and promoting awareness among the academic community about the exam’s relevance—can significantly improve graduates’ performance.