Vivência universitária em empreendedorismo e inovação - VUEI : uma experiência inovadora no âmbito da fisioterapia

Abstract

Introduction: The University Experience in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Project (VUEI), promoted by the Secretariat of Economic Development of Minas Gerais (SEDE), aims to foster innovation and interaction between academia and the market. The National Curricular Guidelines for the Undergraduate Course in Physiotherapy require an academic formation that includes technical aspects as well as skills in decision-making, communication, leadership, administration, and management. However, academic training tends to focus primarily on technical content related to clinical practice, resulting in a gap in managerial development. Objectives: To identify the entrepreneurial profile of students enrolled in the Mandatory Internship in Women’s Health / Maternity and Urology Physiotherapy at UNIFAL-MG (Santa Clara campus) and to evaluate the impact of the "Management Laboratory" intervention, whichfocuses on developing students' managerial and entrepreneurial competencies. Materials and Methods: The first study, of a descriptive observational experimental nature, used the "Assessment of the Entrepreneurial Profile in Academic Settings" questionnaire along with additional questions to characterize the students demographically and to evaluate their self-perception regarding management, finance,entrepreneurship, and innovation. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics (mean, median, and standard deviation). The second study, a longitudinal observational study, used the same instruments to collect data before and after the "Management Laboratory" intervention, with the impact assessed by the Wilcoxon test.The experience report of the VUEI Project was documented in a report. Results: Bothstudies identified a predominance of female students with an entrepreneurial profile classified as "superior" or "upper middle." However, the Management Laboratory showed a slight increase in the median, which was not statistically significant. Initiatives were undertaken to encourage entrepreneurship within the university and the community, and discussions were held regarding the inclusion of more entrepreneurship-related courses in the Physiotherapy curriculum at UNIFAL-MG. Conclusion: Although the students presented an entrepreneurial profile classified assuperior, most do not consider their knowledge in management, innovation, and entrepreneurship to be "good" or "very good." The incorporation of entrepreneurial principles into academic training seems to positively influence graduates' profiles. The scarcity of studies on this topic highlights its importance and the need for further research to promote a more comprehensive education that better prepares future physiotherapists, contributing to their adaptation to market demands and, consequently, enhancing their professional value.