PPGCom-USP

What PPGCom-USP does

ECA-USP (Escola de Comunicações e Artes da Universidade de São Paulo) is a public Brazilian university school founded on June 16, 1966, as part of the University of São Paulo (USP). The institution delivers undergraduate, graduate (master's, doctoral, and postdoctoral), and extension programs across nine departments covering Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Cinema/Radio/TV, Communications and Arts, Information and Culture, Journalism and Publishing, Music, Public Relations/Advertising/Tourism, and the Escola de Arte Dramática. Its graduate portfolio includes the Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Comunicação (PPGCOM) and related programs in Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Information Science, Music, and Audiovisual Media.

The institution's core technology footprint centers on digital platforms for academic research, education, and cultural dissemination, including the Biblioteca Digital da Produção Artística (BDPA/a_Base) for visual arts archives, the Cepedoc multi-user documentation center housing collections from 14 research groups, virtual learning environments, and the LeapSpace generative AI tool available through the library. Research is organized through centers such as the Núcleo de Comunicação e Educação (NCE) and groups like GEIA on AI and digital cultures. The school maintains 87 outbound exchange positions for the first semester of 2027 and pursues strategic international cooperation, including a 2026 agreement with Meio University in Japan effective until September 2029.

The business model is public-sector: education at the undergraduate and graduate levels is tuition-free under Brazilian public education policy, with the institution funded through state appropriations to USP, federal and state research grants (notably a R$ 2,526,768.77 Fapesp grant approved in 2026 for Cepedoc preservation infrastructure), and fees on some extension and specialization courses. Strategic partnerships with industry (Rede Globo), cultural institutions (Theatro Municipal de São Paulo), and government (Ministry of Environment) provide practical training channels but are not revenue-generating commercial relationships. The entity functions as an academic research and teaching unit rather than a commercial enterprise, with no equity ownership, venture funding, or traditional corporate structure.

Name

PPGCom-USP

Legal name

Escola de Comunicações e Artes da Universidade de São Paulo

Website

https://eca.usp.br

Company type

Public

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ECA-USP is the School of Communications and Arts of the University of São Paulo, a public Brazilian university school offering tuition-free undergraduate, graduate, and extension programs across nine departments in communications, journalism, music, visual and performing arts, serving students, researchers, and the broader community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

São Paulo, São Paulo

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

PPGCom-USP is the Graduate Program in Communication Sciences within ECA-USP (Escola de Comunicações e Artes at the Universidade de São Paulo), offering master's and doctoral-level academic education and research in communication sciences. The broader ECA-USP institution also delivers undergraduate degree programs across nine departments (Audiovisual, Journalism, Public Relations, Music, Tourism, Library Science, Publishing, Educommunication, and Advertising) along with extension/continuing education courses, documentation services, and digital library resources including the BDPA artistic production archive.

Product overview

ECA-USP is the School of Communications and Arts of the University of São Paulo, offering undergraduate programs (Graduação), graduate programs (Pós-Graduação), and extension courses across nine departments. The institution provides a comprehensive educational portfolio including undergraduate degrees in Audiovisual, Biblioteconomia, Editoração, Educomunicação, Jornalismo, Música, Publicidade e Propaganda, Relações Públicas, and Turismo. Research infrastructure includes the PPGCOM graduate program, the Cepedoc documentation center, the BDPA digital artistic archive, and the NCE communication and education research center. Cultural extension is supported through projects like the Opera School, Rosa dos Ventos tourism project, and Projeto Redigir.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Comunicação (PPGCOM)
• Graduação em Comunicação e Artes
• Cursos de Extensão
• Biblioteca Digital da Produção Artística da ECA (BDPA/a_Base)
• Núcleo de Comunicação e Educação (NCE)
• Centro de Pesquisa e Documentação da ECA (Cepedoc) Multi-user research facility housing collections from 14 research groups, including audiovisual records, comics, costumes, photographs, theatrical documentation, and personal artist archives. Funded by Fapesp with R$ 2,526,768.77 for preservation, organization, digitization, and security infrastructure.
• Laboratório Agência de Comunicação (LAC)

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

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fapesp (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Fapesp approved funding of R$ 2,526,768.77 for preservation, organization, digitization and security of ECA collections at Cepedoc. Project includes acquisition of climate control systems, digitization laboratory, sliding files, and fire detection/suppression systems, plus three technical training fellowships.
• Meio University (Japan)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Visit from Meio University strengthens academic cooperation between ECA, EACH and the Japanese institution. Agreement serves Tourism, Leisure and Tourism, and Gerontology courses from both units, effective until September 2029.
• Ministério do Meio Ambiente e Mudança do Clima (Ministry of Environment)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026The Educom & Clima project developed by NCE (Núcleo de Comunicação e Educação) at ECA in partnership with the Ministry of Environment articulates educommunication and climate environmental education. Initiative brings together research actions, educator training, and development of practices focused on addressing climate emergency in Basic Education.
• Associação Brasileira de Jornalismo Investigativo (Abraji)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership between ECA's GEIA research group (Grupo de Pesquisa e Estudos em Inteligência Artificial e Culturas Digitais) and Abraji for events and knowledge exchange on AI and digital cultures, including interview with journalist Karen Hao.
• Rede GlobocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025Partnership between ECA and Globo brings the university closer to the job market. Students participate in meetings to discuss advertising and new paths in communication. Opening panel featured Ana Maria Braga. This partnership provides practical experience opportunities for students in communications and advertising.
• Theatro Municipal de São PaulocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025ECA and Theatro Municipal sign unprecedented agreement for practical training of students. Partnership provides opportunities for students to participate in all stages of operatic production from musical and scenic creation to technical and production aspects.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior): CAPES is the Brazilian federal agency that funds and evaluates graduate programs, including PPGCOM at ECA-USP. It is a key ecosystem enabler that directly affects the program's funding, evaluation, and competitive positioning rather than a direct competitor.

Direct peers

• UFRJ - Escola de Comunicação: The School of Communication at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro is a leading Brazilian public institution offering undergraduate and graduate programs in journalism, advertising, and audiovisual — directly comparable to ECA-USP in scope, mission, and academic positioning within Brazil's top-tier federal universities.
• PUC-SP - Faculdade de Comunicação e Artes: Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo's communications and arts faculty is a major São Paulo-based competitor offering undergraduate and graduate programs in journalism, advertising, and arts — comparable in city, scale, and disciplinary focus.
• UnB - Faculdade de Comunicação: The Faculty of Communication at the University of Brasília is a federal public institution offering programs in journalism, advertising, audiovisual, and communication sciences — directly comparable as a Brazilian public university communications school.
• ESPM (Escola Superior de Propaganda e Marketing): ESPM is a private Brazilian institution specialized in advertising, marketing, and communications education. It directly competes with ECA-USP for students and faculty in advertising, public relations, and communications disciplines.
• UFMG - Departamento de Comunicação Social: The Social Communication Department at the Federal University of Minas Gerais offers undergraduate and graduate programs in journalism, audiovisual, and public relations — a peer public institution with comparable scope and academic reputation.
• UFRGS - Departamento de Comunicação: The Communication Department at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul offers undergraduate and graduate programs in journalism, advertising, and audiovisual production — a comparable Brazilian federal public university communications department.
• UFPE - Departamento de Comunicação Social e Turismo: The Social Communication and Tourism Department at the Federal University of Pernambuco is another major Brazilian federal public university offering journalism, advertising, and tourism programs with comparable academic mission.

Broad incumbents

• FAAP (Fundação Armando Alvares Penteado): FAAP is a private São Paulo institution offering undergraduate and graduate programs across communications, arts, and design — a broader incumbent that overlaps with ECA-USP in arts and communication disciplines.
• Mackenzie - Escola de Comunicação e Artes: Mackenzie's School of Communication and Arts is a private São Paulo institution offering journalism, advertising, cinema, and arts programs — a broader incumbent competing with ECA-USP for São Paulo-based students.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ecauspoficial
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ECAUSPOficial
• Facebookfacebook.com/ecauspoficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ppgcomusp
• Instagraminstagram.com/ecauspoficial

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PPGCom-USP