The Ministry of Education (MEC) renewed Unesc's qualification as a Community Institution of Higher Education (ICES). The decision is outlined in Portaria SERES/MEC No. 525, dated October 13, 2026, published by the Secretariat for Regulation and Supervision of Higher Education, and ensures the continuation of recognition for another five years, counted from the publication of the act in the Official Gazette of the Union.

The only Community University in Southern Santa Catarina, Unesc was born from the mobilization of the regional society itself, which, in 1968, created the Educational Foundation of Criciúma (Fucri). The institution was elevated to university status in 1997 and has established a trajectory focused on professional training, knowledge production, and regional development.

"The renewal of the qualification recognizes a trajectory built with community participation and reinforces Unesc's responsibility for the development of Southern Santa Catarina. Being a Community University means maintaining a close relationship with the regional reality, understanding the needs of the population, and transforming knowledge into concrete opportunities and improvements for society. This commitment is present in the training of professionals and in the academic dimensions that bring the University closer to the people," emphasizes the acting rector of Unesc, Gisele Silveira Coelho Lopes.

As a non-profit institution, the University reinvests its results into Teaching, Research, Innovation, and Extension activities, as well as projects aimed at meeting the needs of the population. The community model brings Unesc closer to the regional reality and guides academic action beyond classroom training.

"Today, Unesc is a reality and a source of pride for Southern Santa Catarina. The University was born from a collective dream, from the mobilization of people who believed in education as a path to transform the region. Over nearly six decades, this project has grown, trained thousands of professionals, and expanded its contribution to society. The renewal of the qualification by MEC reaffirms the relevance of a non-profit institution committed to knowledge, to people, and to the necessary transformations for regional development," states the Secretary of State for Education of Santa Catarina and licensed rector, Luciane Bisognin Ceretta.

Training at different levels

Unesc offers 85 undergraduate programs in face-to-face, hybrid, and distance learning modalities, 86 specialization courses, nine master's programs, six doctoral programs, and six medical and multiprofessional residency programs. The educational structure also includes Colégio Unesc, focused on basic education.

The academic community comprises 22,800 students and 1,700 faculty and staff. Over nearly six decades, the University has trained more than 57,000 professionals in various fields of knowledge.

Research, Extension, and Innovation

Community engagement is also expressed in activities developed with the population and in projects for the production and application of knowledge. In Extension, Unesc maintains over 220 projects, 130 courses, and 52 lines of action. In Research, there are 108 groups, 332 projects, and 297 lines of investigation.

In the field of Innovation, the University has 42 projects connected to Unesc Connect, a hub aimed at bridging academic knowledge, entrepreneurship, and the development of solutions.