Faculdade de Oceanografia UERJ

What Faculdade de Oceanografia UERJ does

Faculdade de Oceanografia UERJ (FAOC) is a public academic faculty within the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) and the second-oldest oceanography program in Brazil, founded in 1977 and operating as an independent faculty since 2007. The institution delivers a five-year, 233-credit undergraduate program in Oceanography covering biological, geological, physical, and chemical sub-disciplines, alongside Master's (since 2008) and Doctoral (since 2016) programs under the PPGOCN concentration area "Characterization, Diagnosis and Evolution of Marine Environments." Core infrastructure includes the multi-user oceanographic research vessel Prof. Luiz Carlos — a 30.5-meter, 250+ tonne ship delivered in January 2020 at approximately R$7,000,000 — eight specialized laboratories across four departments, and the CEADS field station on Ilha Grande (500–1,000 visitors per year). Faculty drive over 30 active research lines spanning ocean acidification, biogeochemical cycling, marine geophysics, ecotoxicology, and ocean-atmosphere modeling.

FAOC operates as a tuition-free public institution funded through state and federal education allocations, competitive research grants from agencies including FAPERJ, FINEP, and ALERJ, and project-based funding. Its primary customers are undergraduate students entering via the Brazilian vestibular examination system, graduate researchers, coastal communities served through 23 active extension projects coordinated via the UNIMAR program, and the broader public reached through the Ocean Culture program and Blue Curriculum educational materials. Distribution is campus-based at UERJ's Maracanã campus, supplemented by field components aboard the research vessel and at CEADS, with continuing-education content delivered through the AVA virtual learning environment.

The faculty pursues international scientific positioning through the IRL-MAREL International Research Laboratory with CNRS (France) and UFF (established January 2026), UNESCO Decade of Ocean Science engagement, and participation in the IPCC 7th Assessment Cycle. Commercial activity is limited to the student-run junior enterprise Mar Alto (re-established 2023), which provides oceanographic and environmental consulting services, while the institution itself operates under public governance as part of UERJ with no separate ownership interests, subsidiaries, or external shareholders.

Name

Faculdade de Oceanografia UERJ

Legal name

Faculdade de Oceanografia da Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro

Website

https://oceanografia.uerj.br

Company type

Public

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Public oceanography faculty of the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), founded 1977, delivering undergraduate and graduate degrees across biological, geological, physical, and chemical oceanography, supported by a research vessel, eight labs, and international partnerships including CNRS and UNESCO.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Field Schools & Experiential Academic Programs (Archaeology, Ecology, etc.) (EDAIAIAG)

Keywords

• Oceanographic education
• Marine science research
• Higher education programs
• Coastal environmental studies
• Oceanographic research vessel

Headquarters

HQ city

Rio de Janeiro

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Higher Education (Government Funded): As a public university faculty of the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), the institution operates as a tuition-free educational program funded by government allocations. Revenue comes from state/federal education funding, research grants from agencies such as FAPERJ and FINEP, and project-based funding. No direct tuition revenue is collected from students.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Faculdade de Oceanografia UERJ (FAOC) delivers tuition-free higher education in oceanography, offering a 5-year undergraduate program (10 semesters, 233 credits) and graduate programs (Master's and Doctorate) through PPGOCN. The institution also conducts oceanographic research via specialized laboratories and the multi-user research vessel 'Prof. Luiz Carlos', and provides extension services including environmental education, community outreach, and professional consulting through its junior enterprise Mar Alto.

Product overview

Faculdade de Oceanografia da UERJ is an academic institution offering undergraduate and graduate education in Oceanography. The core product is the 5-year undergraduate Oceanography degree, supported by Master's and Doctoral programs (PPGOCN). Infrastructure includes the multi-user oceanographic research vessel 'Prof. Luiz Carlos' delivered in 2020. The institution provides extension services through NExt FAOC including environmental projects, courses, and scientific outreach. Supporting products include educational materials (Blue Curriculum), the junior enterprise 'Mar Alto' for professional services, and the Ocean Culture program. The institution operates four departments covering Biological, Geological, Physical, and Chemical Oceanography, supported by specialized laboratories and research nuclei.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MAREL – Marine Eutrophication Laboratory: International Research Laboratory (IRL) established in partnership with CNRS (France) and UFF, focused on marine ecology and biogeochemistry research.
• UNIMAR - Universidade do Mar
• Mar Alto
• NExt FAOC

Products and services

• Undergraduate Oceanography Program (Graduação em Oceanografia) Five-year full-time undergraduate program (10 semesters, 233 credits, 4,560 hours) covering biological, geological, physical, and chemical oceanography, including cartography, meteorology, and marine resource management. Includes 120 hours of mandatory shipboard activities and 60 hours of complementary activities. Tuition-free for all students.
• Postgraduate Program in Oceanography - PPGOCN (Master's and Doctorate) Master's (2-year, 26 credits minimum) and Doctoral (4-year, 32 credits minimum) academic programs in Oceanography. Single concentration area: 'Characterization, Diagnosis and Evolution of Marine Environments' with two research lines: Oceanographic Processes at the Continent-Ocean Interface, and Dynamics, Cyclicity and Modeling of Marine Processes.
• Oceanographic Research Vessel Prof. Luiz Carlos Multi-user oceanographic research vessel delivered in January 2020, 30.5m length x 7.8m beam x 2.4m draft, with 15-day autonomy at sea, capacity for 14 overnight users or 30 day-trippers, dual 500hp engines, 90 KVA generator sets, satellite navigation, radiocommunication, radar, and modular container laboratory capability. Supports practical training and multi-user research collaborations.
• Mar Alto Junior Enterprise (Empresa Júnior) Junior enterprise founded in 2004 (re-established in 2023) providing consulting services and projects in Oceanography and Environmental areas, contributing to student professional insertion in the job market.
• Extension Programs (NExt FAOC) Extension programs connecting the university with society through 23 active projects, courses, events, and services addressing ocean, coastal zone, and sustainability challenges. Includes environmental conservation projects, coastal monitoring training, scientific outreach, and the UNIMAR extension program reaching coastal communities, schools, and fishermen.
• Extension Courses (Cursos de Extensão) Extension courses including Introduction to Ocean Culture (for Basic Education teachers), The Ocean and its Role for Life Maintenance (for Higher Education students), Stand-Up Board workshops, and EAD courses via the AVA virtual learning environment.
• Educational Materials - Blue Curriculum (Materiais Didáticos - Currículo Azul) Free educational materials for K-12 education based on the Blue Curriculum initiative. Includes coloring books (Ocean Alphabet, Rocky Shore, 7 Principles of Ocean Culture, Mangrove, Beaches, Coral Reefs), educational games (Azulzinha, Coastal Ecosystems Cards, Who Am I, Marine RPG), and guides on sustainable fishing practices.
• Ocean Culture Program (Cultura Oceânica) Annual program of roundtables, lectures, and inaugural classes on ocean culture covering topics such as the ocean's role in climate regulation, ecosystem services, new ocean study technologies, marine biota, and solid waste effects.

Quantifiable outcome

• UNESCO Decade of Ocean Science official endorsement for the 'Olhares da Vida para o Oceano' photography contest with 374 participants from across Brazil
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 January 2026International Research Laboratory IRL-MAREL (Marine Eutrophication Laboratory) established January 27, 2026. First CNRS laboratory at UERJ. Focus on marine eutrophication ecology and biogeochemistry through three axes: (1) Continent-ocean interface - eutrophication monitoring via campaigns, remote sensing, and environmental modeling; (2) Mangrove ecosystems - studying carbon stock vulnerability to nutrient inputs; (3) Biological communities - analysis of toxic algal blooms and bioindicators. Led by Dr. Gwenael Abril (Director - CNRS), Dr. Gleyci Moser (Co-Director - UERJ), Dr. Marcelo Bernardes (Co-Director - UFF). Over a decade of prior collaboration between Brazilian and French researchers.
• Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 January 2026Co-partner in the IRL-MAREL International Research Laboratory alongside CNRS and UERJ. Co-directed by Dr. Marcelo Bernardes (UFF) with researcher Dr. Wilson Machado (UFF) contributing to the marine eutrophication research program.
• INACE (Indústria Naval do Ceará)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2019Naval shipyard that constructed the oceanographic research vessel 'Prof. Luiz Carlos'. Traditional builder of medium and large metal vessels, including oceanographic ships, offshore vessels, and vessels for the Brazilian Navy.
• Partner Universities and Research CenterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple inter-institutional agreements and cooperation programs with universities and research centers nationally and internationally. Collaborative outcomes include joint research projects, joint publications, student and faculty exchange, and equipment sharing. Collaborations have produced publications in national and international journals and enabled academic exchange programs.
• CEADS (Centro de Estudos Ambientais e Desenvolvimento Sustentável)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental Studies and Sustainable Development Center of UERJ located at Vila Dois Rios on Ilha Grande, within the Parque Estadual da Ilha Grande. Provides field research infrastructure supporting 500-1000 students, technicians, and researchers annually. Integral to the Faculty's research and extension activities in marine and coastal environments.
• UNESCO IOC (Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration through Decade of the Ocean Science initiative (2021-2030). Participation in the UNESCO IOC Integrated Research Report on Ocean Carbon (2026) with Prof. Leticia Cotrim da Cunha leading Section 3.c. Official endorsement of the Faculty's 'Olhares da Vida para o Oceano' photography contest as a Decade of the Ocean event.
• Brazilian Navy (Marinha do Brasil)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through SECIRM (Comissão Interministerial de Recursos do Mar) and the Historical Heritage Directorate. Collaboration on the 'Olhares da Vida para o Oceano' photography contest jury and institutional activities.
• FAPERJ (YouTube)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFAPERJ maintains a YouTube channel with oceanography-related content, including videos supporting research communication and public engagement.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG): Federal university in southern Brazil with one of the country's leading oceanography schools, including undergraduate and graduate programs and research vessels. Operates in a comparable model (public, tuition-free) and competes with FAOC for graduate students and marine research grants.
• Instituto de Ciências do Mar (LABOMAR) — Universidade Federal do Ceará: UFC's marine sciences institute offering oceanography and related programs with a strong coastal/marine ecology focus and field station infrastructure. A direct competitor for talent and for federal research grants across the same sub-disciplines.
• Instituto Oceanográfico da Universidade de São Paulo (IOUSP): Brazil's oldest and most prominent oceanography institute, offering undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs across the same four sub-disciplines as FAOC, with its own research vessels and laboratories. It is the natural benchmark against which FAOC competes for faculty talent, students, and grants.
• Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC) — Oceanography programs: Public federal university hosting oceanography undergraduate and graduate programs with physical, chemical, geological, and biological specializations. Competes with FAOC for vestibular candidates and postgraduate applicants in Brazil's South/Southeast.
• Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE) — Oceanography: Hosts one of Brazil's recognized oceanography programs serving the Northeast region, with comparable four-discipline structure and graduate research lines. A peer institution competing for the same national pool of marine science talent and CAPES/FAP funding.
• Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) — Marine and coastal programs: Large federal university in Rio de Janeiro with marine biology, biogeochemistry, and coastal research groups. Geographically overlapping with FAOC and competing for the same regional student pool, faculty, and Rio-based research funding.

Broad incumbents

• IFREMER (Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer): France's primary marine research institute, operating research vessels, deep-sea infrastructure, and observatories. A natural international peer given the Brazil-France scientific axis that IRL-MAREL sits on, and a comparable model of publicly funded marine research with vessel-led programs.
• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI): Leading private oceanographic research and education institution with a fleet of research vessels and graduate program jointly administered with MIT. Comparable in combining degree education with multi-user oceanographic platforms and UNESCO-grade research output.
• Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS): France's largest public research organization and FAOC's flagship international partner in the IRL-MAREL laboratory. As a broad incumbent, CNRS conducts marine sciences across hundreds of labs and offers a comparable institutional model for public, government-funded research at scale.
• Scripps Institution of Oceanography (UC San Diego): One of the world's oldest, largest, and most cited oceanographic institutions, integrating undergraduate and graduate education with research vessels, laboratories, and global climate programs. Sets the global benchmark FAOC is measured against for international standing.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCbfDOFwUTnkWCmoQ5tC9rQA
• Facebookfacebook.com/faocuerj
• Instagraminstagram.com/faocuerj
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/faculdade-de-oceanografia-uerj

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Faculdade de Oceanografia UERJ