Occupational therapy education in the context of Brazilian northeast: reflections to advocate for a generalist professional and the social function of universities

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the graduate profile and course objectives as presented in the Political Pedagogical Projects of undergraduate occupational therapy courses located in public higher education institutions in Northeast Brazil, and to make observations about the direction of training, professional practice, and the job market. Method: This is a documentary study that analyzed the Political Pedagogical Projects (PPPs) of undergraduate occupational therapy courses located in public institutions in the Northeast region of Brazil. Data collection took place from March to September 2023, and the categories “course objective” and “graduate profile” were specifically selected for analysis. After the analysis, reflective topics were constructed. Results: It was identified that most courses mention work in health and training for public policies/the public sector, citing health knowledge and a generalist graduate profile. To a lesser extent, the documents indicate: training geared towards the social assistance and education sectors, the use of knowledge from the humanities, and the explicit mention of local specificities. Conclusion: It is pointed out that the results reflect the historical context of the profession’s development in the country, and it is recommended that: the social function of public institutions be preserved; that the actors involved promote the aforementioned generalist and reflective training, without succumbing to market logic; that possible regional specificities of training/performance be studied; and that institutions and teachers work towards integrating the theory presented in the project texts with practice.