Reflecting higher education: an approach in the light of Amartya Sen developmental theory

Abstract

This article presents a discussion on higher education as a factor of development, anchoring itself in the theoretical framework of Amartya Sen’s capabilities approach. This theoretical perspective adopts an expanded view of development that transcends the strict focus on economic growth (such as GDP) to value individuals’ substantive freedoms and well-being. The research that originated this work is the result of a doctoral investigation, which aimed to analyze the correlation between higher education and social development. The methodology used was based on a case study with the Federal University of Tocantins (UFT) Arraias Campus as the empirical locus. This methodological choice aimed to investigate the university’s impact in a specific context—the Southeast of Tocantins—a region marked by socioeconomic asymmetries and low levels of job and income generation, according to the Firjan Municipal Development Index (IFDM). The research results reveal the fundamental role of higher education as a mechanism for transforming human capabilities. By guaranteeing the right to access knowledge, the university helps individuals exercise their autonomy and freedom, becoming an element of great prominence for weakening narratives of low progress and for human emancipation. The study concludes that higher education should be viewed as a way to enhance human capabilities, such as creativity and critical reflection, and to act as a tool for inclusion and social protection in vulnerable regions.