The present paper endeavors to analyze the existence of interaction between companies who hire physical educators and the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) responsible for their training. The perspectives of managers from both ends involved on that relationship, as well as relevant information regarding the ideal level of academic formation required to meet the expectations of the consumer market, have also been analyzed. The research performed was of the qualitative-quantitative type, and was carried out through descriptive investigation. A simple random sample was established, consisting of 25% of the gyms located in the Plano Piloto area (Asa Sul and Asa Norte areas, Brasília, DF, Brazil) that are accredited by the Regional Council of Physical Education (CREF – DF) (n =27), and all the HEIs in Brasília which have Physical Education courses (n = 9). A total number of 36 managers were interviewed. The results revealed that, despite the fact that the managers involved in general consider this integration to be very important, such interaction currently happens only sporadically through a few professors from HEIs, on an informal basis, not being part of an HEI policy with a clear goal. It is also noteworthy that, even though gym managers and HEI education managers have very close opinions on the main group of disciplines to be taught, as well on relevant factors in academic-professional training and on factors that they deem relevant for competent professional work on the part of physical educators, the end result (trained professional) is seen differently by managers from different sectors as to what regards their training, which may justify the importance of higher levels of interaction between the job market reality and the formation of professionals in educational institutions. Higher integration levels may, therefore, contribute to a more efficient academic formation for the Physical Education professional. |
