INFORMATION-BASED CAPACITY-SIZING INDICATORS DERIVED FROM THE ANALYSIS OF EXTENSION PROJECT DATA AT THE UFRN CENTER OF EDUCATION
university extension; informational indicators; informational behavior; information management; indicators panel; information governance; organizational intelligence.
This research project proposes a strategic approach to the treatment and visualization of data on university extension projects through the development of an interactive dashboard aimed at institutional management. Based on the analysis of data extracted via the Application Programming Interface of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, the research seeks to generate indicators that can support decision-making within the Center for Education, particularly regarding the prospecting of calls for proposals and the allocation of resources to territories with greater educational deficiencies in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. Anchored in the foundations of Information Science, the proposal integrates concepts of information behavior, informational barriers, and institutional intelligence. The research problem investigated is: how can the analysis of data from the extension projects of the Center for Education at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte support the creation of indicators to aid strategic decision-making in university management? The general objective is to investigate how the analysis of data from the extension projects of the Center for Education at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte can support the construction of informational indicators capable of assisting strategic decision-making in university management. The methodology adopts a mixed approach, combining quantitative analysis of project data with qualitative evaluation through interviews with managers, following the hypothetical-deductive method to test two central hypotheses concerning the completeness of the available data and the effectiveness of the proposed indicators. The technological development employs Hypertext Preprocessor, PostgreSQL, JavaScript, and Python to create a visualization system that mitigates physical, cognitive, and organizational barriers to information access. The expected results include the creation of indicators organized into four main dimensions: coverage, impact, efficiency, and equity, promoting greater transparency and efficiency in public educational management, contributing to more evidence-based decisions, and reducing regional inequalities. The research contributes to advancing knowledge at the interface between Information Science and university management, demonstrating how the application of solid theoretical concepts, combined with the use of contemporary technologies, can result in practical solutions that benefit both the institution and society.