Objectives
The Master’s Program in Informatics at UFAL aims to contribute to Brazil’s technological and scientific development, particularly in the state of Alagoas, through the generation of knowledge and the training of highly qualified professionals in the areas of Computational Systems Engineering and Visual and Intelligent Computing. Thus, the program seeks to develop professionals capable of technological innovation, critical analysis, and the dissemination of new models and procedures, who can serve society, educational and research institutions, and companies that work with computing and automation.

Specifically, the program aims to train professionals capable of working with advanced techniques in modeling, development, and analysis of computational systems that can contribute to the advancement of education, research, and productivity in various sectors of the economy. The motivation for implementing this program lies in the strategic importance of the chosen areas of concentration and the regional need for research integrated with a graduate program in the field of Computer Science.

Justification for Implementation
The Institute of Computing (IC) has offered an undergraduate degree in Computer Science since 1987 and launched the Computer Engineering program in the first semester of 2011. It has also offered a Master’s degree in Knowledge Computational Modeling, in CAPES’s Interdisciplinary area, since 2004. The justification for launching a Master’s program in Informatics under the Computer Science committee stems from several factors. The state of Alagoas does not have any graduate programs in Computing. This lack has led many IC graduates to leave the state to pursue Master’s degrees elsewhere. On average, 10 students per year leave IC for graduate studies in other states.

According to the latest IBGE census, the state of Alagoas currently has more than 3 million inhabitants, with nearly 1 million residing in the capital, Maceió. Therefore, the absence of a graduate program in such a strategic area as computing, combined with the state’s demand, justifies the establishment of the proposed program. In addition, IC has hired several new faculty members in recent years. There is also an internal demand from the faculty for a program that better reflects their areas of expertise. The history of IC and UFAL in the field of Computing also includes a specialization in Information Technology and the Computer Science program in Arapiraca, which has been running for four years and holds a rating of 4 by the Brazilian Ministry of Education (MEC).

Location

UFAL - Bloco 12