Universidade do Contestado

Universidade do Contestado (UnC) is a community higher-education institution based in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. It was founded in 1997 through the merger of five regional educational foundations — FEARPE in Caçador, FUNPLOC in Canoinhas, FEAUC in Concórdia, FEPLAC in Curitibanos and FUNORTE in Mafra — into a single institution. It was recognized on 21 October 1997 (Parecer 42/97-CEE) and officially installed by the state government on 3 December 1997 (Parecer 246/97-CEE). Its name honors the Contestado region. The university is maintained by the Fundação Universidade do Contestado (FUnC) and operates campuses in Canoinhas, Concórdia, Curitibanos, Mafra, Porto União and Rio Negrinho, along with distance-learning hubs in several additional cities. It offers a broad portfolio of undergraduate programs — including Administration, Law, Civil Engineering, Nursing, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Psychology, Medicine and Veterinary Medicine — as well as specialization courses, master's programs and doctoral programs. According to its official website, it has graduated more than 40,000 professionals and offers around 50 courses, with teaching recognized by the Ministry of Education (MEC). UnC positions itself as a regional institution transforming lives through education, spanning from basic education to stricto sensu graduate studies. Its academic offerings include master's programs in Regional Development, Civil/Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, and Administration, plus doctoral programs in Regional Development and in Accounting and Administration. The institution also emphasizes modern infrastructure, technology resources, high employability rates and faculty holding master's and doctoral degrees. In 2009 the Caçador campus was separated to become UNIARP (Universidade do Alto Vale do Rio do Peixe), while the remaining campuses were unified administratively and academically under FUnC. In 2017 UnC received authorization to offer a Medicine undergraduate program at its Mafra campus, and its Master's in Regional Development at Canoinhas received a CAPES score of 4, opening the possibility of a doctoral program. The university continues to expand its infrastructure, including a new Polysports Center in Mafra.

Universidade do Contestado (UnC) was founded in 1997 through the union of five regional educational foundations: the Fundação Educacional do Alto Vale do Rio do Peixe (FEARPE) in Caçador, the Fundação das Escolas do Planalto Catarinense (FUNPLOC) in Canoinhas, the Fundação Educacional do Alto Uruguai Catarinense (FEAUC) in Concórdia, the Fundação do Planalto Central Catarinense (FEPLAC) in Curitibanos, and the Fundação Educacional do Norte Catarinense (FUNORTE) in Mafra. These foundations were brought together around a single institution. The university was recognized on 21 October 1997 (Parecer 42/97-CEE) and officially installed by the state government on 3 December 1997 (Parecer 246/97-CEE). Its designation honors the Contestado region. In October 2009, the Caçador campus was separated and became UNIARP (Universidade do Alto Vale do Rio do Peixe). The remaining campuses were unified both administratively and academically, maintained by the Fundação Universidade do Contestado (FUnC). In 2017, UnC received authorization to offer an undergraduate Medicine program at its Mafra campus, a milestone for the university and for regional development. Also in 2017, the Master's program in Regional Development offered at the Canoinhas campus received a score of 4 from CAPES, opening the possibility for the university to offer a doctoral program. Over the years, UnC has expanded its academic portfolio to include undergraduate, specialization, master's and doctoral programs across multiple campuses and distance-learning hubs. According to its official website, it has graduated more than 40,000 professionals and offers around 50 courses, with teaching recognized by MEC. The institution continues to invest in infrastructure, such as the new Polysports Center inaugurated in Mafra.

• 2026

  Inaugurated new Polysports Center in Mafra.

• 2017

  Authorized to offer undergraduate Medicine at Mafra campus; Master's in Regional Development at Canoinhas received CAPES score 4.

• 2009

  Caçador campus separated to become UNIARP (Universidade do Alto Vale do Rio do Peixe); remaining campuses unified under FUnC.

• 1997

  Founded through the union of five regional educational foundations (FEARPE, FUNPLOC, FEAUC, FEPLAC, FUNORTE).

• 1997

  Recognized on 21 October 1997 (Parecer 42/97-CEE) and officially installed by the state government on 3 December 1997 (Parecer 246/97-CEE).

Community higher-education institution transforming lives through education, from basic education to stricto sensu graduate studies, with MEC-recognized teaching and strong regional presence.

• Undergraduate programs (40 types)

  Includes Administration, Law, Civil Engineering, Nursing, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Psychology, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, and more across campuses.

• Specialization courses (85 courses)

  Post-graduate lato sensu courses.

• Master's programs (3)

  Regional Development; Professional Master's in Civil, Sanitary and Environmental Engineering; Professional Master's in Administration.

• Doctoral programs (2)

  Doctoral Program in Regional Development; Doctoral Program in Accounting and Administration.

• Distance-learning programs

  Includes Administration, Accounting, Special Education, History, Journalism, Letters, Pedagogy, Advertising and Propaganda, and HR Management Technology.

1. 1UNC – Universidade do Contestado (official website)unc.br
2. 2Universidade do Contestado – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Universidade do Contestado – Wikipedia (Portuguese)pt.wikipedia.org
4. 4UNC – Universidade do Contestadounc.br