National Student Assistance Program: trends and gaps from integrative analysis

Abstract

The objective of the article was to analyze, in the light of the integrative review, the trends and theoretical-empirical gaps in the works dealing with the National Student Assistance Program. For this purpose, the Brazilian Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations was used, identifying 127 works between the years 2008 (the beginning of the program) and 2021. Among the main findings, the volume of research stands out, although not very representative in the universe of federal institutions, they indicated that the PNAES satisfactorily fulfilled its objectives, thus evidencing the effectiveness of student permanence. On the other hand, the literature lacks studies that establish time frames before and after receiving benefits, or even parallels between the indicators and budget issues. The evidence for the area shows that even in the organizational singularity of each institution, the elaboration of evaluative guidelines that allow for inter-institutional comparisons can contribute to the monitoring and consolidation of the PNAES, as a national public policy.