Inequalities in the International Academic Mobility of Brazilians (2012-2022): An Analysis of Data from Federal Science Funding Agencies (Capes and CNPq)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14422/mig.23741.018Keywords:
internationalization of graduate education, international academic mobility, brain circulation, international graduate scholarships, academic inequalities, Brazilian higher educationAbstract
Driven in Brazil by the internationalization of graduate education, the international academic mobility of Brazilians has been promoted since the 1960s and is currently implemented mainly at the federal level by the Ministries of Education and of Science, Technology and Innovation, through Capes and CNPq. This study investigates—within the broader context of graduate internationalization and international “brain circulation”—the dynamics and profile of Brazilian academic mobility over the past decade, with particular attention to social inequalities. Drawing on public quantitative data, we analyze how academic mobility patterns intersect with categories such as race, gender, and geopolitical destination. Between 2012 and 2022, approximately 64,000 Brazilians received government support to conduct academic research abroad. Most of these scholars were hosted by institutions in Global North countries, highlighting persistent asymmetries in the international academic system. Although distribution of scholarships between men and women is relatively balanced, gender disparities remain across specific fields of knowledge. Racial inequalities are more pronounced: the majority of scholarships were awarded to white individuals, revealing limited racial diversity among beneficiaries. These findings suggest that, despite efforts to democratize access to international academic opportunities, structural barriers related to race and global hierarchies continue to shape who benefits from state-sponsored mobility programs in Brazil and their destinations abroad.
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