Recognizing the IFNMG Teófilo Otoni influence area: a methodological proposal from the place of residence integrated secondary education students

Abstract

The Federal Institutes of Education, Science and Technology (IF's) were expanded during the first decades of the 21st century and culminated in a process of internalization that still lacks a more systematic mapping of their campuses’ spatial scope. From this assumption, the research sought to identify the Federal Institute of Northern Minas Gerais (IFNMG) Teófilo Otoni Campus’ spatial reach – from the perspective of the students’ place of residence – vis-à-vis its institutionally verified coverage area and to analyze the possible overlap with other IFNMG units, especially Almenara, Araçuaí, and Diamantina. The methodological resources used were associated with a literature review; primary data from students enrolled in technical courses integrated into secondary education between the years 2016 to 2022 with the Coordination of School; and Academic Records and data spatialization in a Geographic Information System. For the analyzed period, the low diversity of municipalities with students who commute to the IFNMG can be explained by trips lasting up to 60 minutes by public transport and within a radius of 45 kilometers. The other municipalities are geographically distant and with a travel time that makes commuting unfeasible. Therefore, the spatialization that uses the Immediate Region of Teófilo Otoni as a spatial reference seems to be the most adequate to delimit its real area of influence.