Universidade Federal do Piauí

What Universidade Federal do Piauí does

Universidade Federal do Piauí (UFPI) is a Brazilian federal public university headquartered in Teresina, Piauí, founded in 1971 and operating across four campuses (Teresina, Picos, Floriano, Bom Jesus) following the 2018 spin-off of UFDPar. It delivers tuition-free undergraduate, graduate, and distance-learning (EAD) programs and serves as the only federal university in the state of Piauí, employing between 1,001 and 5,000 staff and faculty. Its core "products" are academic credentials and publicly funded research output, with no commercial revenue stream; the institution is sustained almost entirely by federal allocations from Brazil's Ministry of Education (MEC) and supplemented by donation partnerships (e.g., Receita Federal) and applied-research collaborations with state agencies.

The business model is that of a non-commercial public-good provider: there is no tuition pricing, no go-to-market motion, and no paying customer base. Funding flows directly from the federal budget, while student demand is fulfilled through public admissions processes (SISU/vestibular). Operational governance is overseen by a rectorate currently led by UFPI's first female rector, Nadir do Nascimento Nogueira (2024-2028 term), and supported by bodies including COSAM and the LGPD-compliant Privacy Policy framework. Notable technical and methodological components include the Sociopoética research methodology, structured research networks such as OBIJUVE, and ongoing distance-learning infrastructure.

Recent strategic posture indicates measured capacity expansion: 131 new hires within roughly 18 months under the current administration, a new Evidence-Informed Policies course delivered with SESAPI/CIATEN/IDS, international engagement via the I Forum of Rectors of Latin America and the Caribbean, and sustainability initiatives (UFPI Mais Sustentável). These moves signal incremental broadening of UFPI's academic and policy footprint, though growth is structurally constrained by dependence on a single federal sponsor.

Name

Universidade Federal do Piauí

Legal name

Fundação Universidade Federal do Piauí

Website

https://ufpi.br

Company type

Public

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Universidade Federal do Piauí (UFPI) is a federally chartered Brazilian public university, founded 1971, operating four campuses in Piauí and delivering tuition-free undergraduate, graduate, and distance-learning programs funded by the Ministry of Education.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Cooperative Education (Co-op) Technical Universities (EDAHAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Research Grants, Fellowships & Stipends (International) (EDAIAOAJ)

Keywords

• Public higher education
• Undergraduate programs
• Graduate programs
• Distance learning
• Academic research

Headquarters

HQ city

Teresina

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal Government Budget Allocation: Primary funding from the Ministry of Education (MEC) through the Fundação Universidade Federal do Piauí (FUFPI), established by Law 5.528 of 12/11/1968.
2. Research Grants and Funding: Funding from CAPES and CNPq for graduate programs, scientific initiation, and research projects.
3. Donations and Transfers: Goods and equipment donations from government agencies like Receita Federal, and transfer agreements with partner institutions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

UFPI is a federal public university that delivers undergraduate, graduate, and technical education across four campuses in Piauí state (Teresina, Picos, Floriano, Bom Jesus), supported by distance learning through CEAD and research programs. The university also operates EDUFPI, a publishing house for academic works, and provides student assistance through PRAEC including restaurants, scholarships, and psychological services.

Product overview

Universidade Federal do Piauí (UFPI) is a federal public higher education institution that provides educational services across multiple campuses (Teresina, Picos, Floriano, and Bom Jesus). The university's core offering is undergraduate and graduate education, delivered through traditional and distance learning modalities. UFPI operates academic management systems (SIGAA, SIPAC) for administrative functions including enrollment, research programs, and student services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs Bachelor's degrees, teaching degrees, and technology programs delivered across four campuses in Teresina, Picos, Floriano, and Bom Jesus. Admission primarily through Brazil's SISU unified selection system. Free tuition for all admitted students.
• Graduate Programs (Stricto Sensu) Master's and doctoral degree programs supported by CAPES and CNPq scholarships. Offered across multiple knowledge areas with research infrastructure and faculty mentorship.
• Lato Sensu Specialization Programs Professional specialization courses for graduates seeking advanced credentials in specific fields.
• PARFOR Teacher Training Program National Program for Teacher Training (PARFOR/PARFOR Equidade) providing pedagogical degree completion for in-service basic education teachers through distance and in-person modalities.
• Distance Learning Programs (CEAD) Remote learning programs delivered through the Center for Distance Education (CEAD), particularly supporting in-service teacher training and continuing education.
• EDUFPI Academic Publishing University press publishing books, academic works, and regional cultural content including children's literature celebrating Piauí identity.
• University Restaurant Services Subsidized meals for students through university restaurants operated by PRAEC, with the PARU food policy proposal under consideration by ANDIFES and FONAPRACE.
• Scientific Research and PIBIC/PIBITI Programs Scientific initiation programs (PIBIC, PIBITI) and voluntary research participation for undergraduates, with research projects across all disciplines supported by CNPq and CAPES funding.

Quantifiable outcome

• OBIJUVE research archive contains over 144 academic productions including dissertations and theses, with 4 dissertations and 2 theses specifically on LGBTQIA+ themes analyzed in doctoral research
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Receita Federal (Federal Revenue Service)minorOthers · 30 June 2026Receita Federal donates seized goods including vehicles and electronic equipment to support university operations. UFPI received a Fiat Fiorino vehicle, 20 smartphones, and 100 TV Box units in June 2026. Previous donations included a truck and smartphones in April 2025.
• Ministry of Education (MEC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 June 2026Lead ministry providing federal funding and policy direction for the university through FUFPI. Partners on initiatives including the I Forum of Rectors of Latin America and the Caribbean, and national student assistance programs.
• SESAPI (Secretaria de Estado da Saúde do Piauí)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026State health secretariat partnering with UFPI through CIATEN and the Course on Evidence-Informed Policies to strengthen evidence-based decision-making in public health management across Piauí.
• CIATEN (Centro de Inteligência em Agravos Tropicais Emergentes e Negligenciados)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Center for Intelligence in Emerging and Neglected Tropical Diseases partnering with UFPI to develop the Evidence-Informed Policies course and strengthen SUS through scientific evidence utilization.
• IDS (Instituto de Doenças do Sertão)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Institute of Diseases of the Sertão collaborating with UFPI on the Evidence-Informed Policies course and health policy research initiatives in partnership with SESAPI.
• SuzanominorOthers · 1 January 2026Brazilian pulp and paper company receiving engineering students from CPCE campus for technical visits, providing industry exposure and employment opportunities for UFPI alumni who work at the company.
• Foz do Iguaçu Forum Partners (UNILA, ANDIFES, CONIF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Collaboration through the I Forum of Rectors of Latin America and the Caribbean for university cooperation, solidarity, and regional integration among federal universities and institutions across Latin America and the Caribbean.
• CAPES and CNPqcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational research and graduate education funding agencies supporting scholarships, scientific initiation programs (PIBIC, PIBITI), and research grants across all disciplines.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Universidade Federal do Delta do Parnaíba (UFDPar): UFDPar is the direct federal university spin-off of UFPI, originating from the former Campus Ministro Reis Velloso (CMRV), which traced back to the Faculdade de Administração do Piauí that merged into UFPI in 1971. It is a federal university in Piauí with the same regional public higher education mission, free tuition model, and overlapping research/teaching portfolio as UFPI.
• Universidade Federal do Maranhão (UFMA): UFMA is a comprehensive federal university in the neighboring state of Maranhão with a multi-campus structure and shared mission of providing free public higher education to underserved Northeast Brazil populations. Comparable to UFPI in program scope, federal funding model, regional development focus, and student profile.
• Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN): UFRN is a comprehensive federal university in Northeast Brazil with a multi-campus presence, robust graduate programs, and research focus comparable to UFPI's regional positioning in higher education and extension activities. Both serve as anchors for higher education access in their respective states.
• Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC): UFC is a major federal university in Ceará offering comprehensive undergraduate and graduate programs in teaching, research, and extension with a multi-campus structure and the same federal model of free public higher education as UFPI. Both are large-scale federal HEIs in Northeast Brazil with comparable research outputs.
• Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB): UFPB is a comprehensive federal university in Paraíba state with a multi-campus structure and research focus comparable to UFPI as a federal HEI serving an underserved Northeast Brazilian population through teaching, research, and extension activities. Both share similar regional development missions and federal governance.
• Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE): UFPE is a major federal university in Recife with comprehensive programs across all academic areas, providing a benchmark for UFPI's graduate education, research output, and regional development contributions in Northeast Brazil. Both institutions share federal governance and a focus on graduate research intensity.
• Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA): UFBA is a comprehensive federal university in Salvador, Brazil, with a similar scope of academic programs, federal governance structure, and regional development mission. It is comparable to UFPI as a federal HEI delivering undergraduate, graduate, and extension services with MEC funding.
• Universidade Federal da Integração Latino-Americana (UNILA): UNILA is a federal university with explicit Latin American integration focus that collaborates with UFPI through the I Forum of Rectors of Latin America and the Caribbean (alongside ANDIFES and CONIF). Both share federal governance, research orientation, and a commitment to regional academic cooperation across Latin America.

Regional players

• Universidade Estadual do Piauí (UESPI): UESPI is the state university of Piauí, providing free public higher education across the state with a comparable regional mission to UFPI. It is a regional peer as the other major HEI in Piauí with a similar focus on access to higher education in the state, though funded at state rather than federal level.

Broad incumbents

• Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG): UFG is a comprehensive federal university in central Brazil with multi-campus presence, broad program offerings, and significant research output. Comparable to UFPI in scale and mission of providing public higher education across multiple regional campuses, though located in a different geographic region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@UfpiTV
• Xx.com/ufpioficial
• Facebookfacebook.com/ufpioficial

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Universidade Federal do Piauí