PET Odontologia no vale and the academic trajectory of graduates

Abstract

Introduction/Justification: Universities are responsible for training qualified professionals for intellectual, scientific, and technical careers, as well as for the production and dissemination of knowledge through the integration of teaching, research, and extension (TEIXEIRA, 1964). In this context, the Tutorial Education Program (PET), established by the Ministry of Education (MEC), aims to complement academic training by continuously promoting the principle of the inseparability of teaching, research, and extension, based on a tutoring model. Present in several higher education institutions, PET contributes to the development of academic and professional competencies among undergraduate students, fostering critical thinking, teamwork, and the integration between university, services, and community (BRASIL, MEC, 2006). PET Odontologia no Vale, founded in January 2009 at the Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys (UFVJM), works to strengthen academic training through teaching, research, and extension activities, including actions in public health, academic events, and studies aimed at course improvement. The program promotes positive impacts on the teaching-learning process, encouraging dialogue, community engagement, and the articulation between theoretical and practical knowledge. Furthermore, it provides participants with greater proximity to the academic career by encouraging scientific production, teaching activities, and extension actions between the community and the university (ROCHA et al.). Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiological profile of graduates from the Dentistry course at the Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys who participated in the PET Odontologia no Vale group during their undergraduate studies. Methodology: This study is characterized as a descriptive investigation, conducted through the analysis of curricula from the Lattes Platform of graduates from PET Odontologia no Vale. A total of 49 curricula of former program members were analyzed and included, covering the period from its foundation to the present year. The sample includes the last PET member who graduated in 2025, since the remaining members were not included due to still being enrolled in the undergraduate program or completing the mandatory internship of the 10th semester. The identification of graduates was carried out through the SIGPET System and internal program records, which supported the search for their respective curricula on the Lattes Platform. Graduates whose curricula were not found or were not updated after graduation were excluded from the sample. Variables related to academic and professional trajectories were analyzed, including participation in or completion of stricto sensu postgraduate programs (master’s and doctoral degrees), as well as teaching activities in higher education, considering positions such as adjunct, visiting, or volunteer professors; and courses. Additionally, participation in international exchange programs during postgraduate studies was also analyzed. Results: It was found that 55.1% (n = 27) of the graduates are currently enrolled in or have completed a master’s degree, while 40.8% (n = 20) have pursued or are pursuing a doctoral degree. Furthermore, 32.6% (n = 16) of the participants are or have been involved in teaching in higher education, and 14.28% (n = 7) participated in international exchange programs during postgraduate studies. A high level of insertion of graduates in stricto sensu postgraduate education and academia was observed, indicating a strong tendency toward academic continuity. Thus, participation in the program, whether as a scholarship holder or volunteer, may influence professional interests, particularly regarding the continuation of education at the postgraduate level, especially stricto sensu programs. The professional profile of PET Odontologia no Vale graduates represents a general and consolidated trend among program participants nationwide. This reality had already been evidenced in an analysis conducted by the PET group of the School of Dentistry at the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA) in 2010, which demonstrated the program’s positive impact on labor market insertion and a strong inclination toward continuing education, with 77.1% (n = 27) of former scholarship holders attending or having completed postgraduate studies. This inclination toward professional development remains confirmed in recent literature, as demonstrated in the evaluation of graduates from the Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel), in which 93.2% (n = 55) of former participants pursued postgraduate education, and all participants (59 graduates) reported the development of essential interpersonal skills. This differentiated professional profile is justified by the program’s methodological principles which, according to PET-Saúde experiences reported at the Federal University of Mato Grosso (UFMT), employ active and problem-based methodologies to strengthen the integration between teaching, services, and community, thus ensuring the training of critical professionals fully prepared for collaborative and interprofessional work in meeting population health needs. Conclusion: It is concluded that participation in PET Odontologia no Vale has a positive influence on the academic trajectory of its graduates, as suggested by the high level of engagement in stricto sensu postgraduate programs and involvement in teaching positions in public and private higher education institutions. The findings indicate that the program significantly contributes to the development of academic, scientific, and pedagogical competencies, encouraging continued education and interest in academic careers. Thus, PET stands out as an important strategy for strengthening university education, promoting professional qualification and the training of human resources focused on the production and dissemination of knowledge.