Methodist University closes five courses in Greater SP – 12/13/2023 – Education

In a note published on its official website and on social media, the Methodist Education Network announced this Wednesday (13) the closure of five face-to-face courses at the Methodist University on the São Bernardo do Campo campus, in Greater São Paulo: physical education, production engineering, physiotherapy, radio and TV and information systems.

In addition to these, the dentistry course, which also had a night class, will now only be full time (morning and afternoon).

The institution stated that the decision, which will impact 5% of its students, is part of the network’s restructuring process, which began in 2021.

The university also declared that physical education and production engineering courses will now be in an EAD (distance learning) format.

According to the note, students on discontinued courses will be able to change classes or shifts within the university itself or look for another institution for transfer.

“We reinforce that all students on closed courses were informed and have alternatives to continue their studies, whether at the institution itself (in another shift or modality) or at institutions that have committed to maintaining financial conditions similar to those practiced at Metodista”, highlights the text.

Facing a series of financial difficulties since 2015, the education group filed for judicial recovery at the beginning of 2021. The institution had a debt of around R$500 million.

In May of that year, the recovery request was approved by the Court of Justice. The judge understood that the institution was capable of recovering financially within the restructuring process.

The plan, however, was only approved on December 3, 2022 by judge Gilberto Schäfer, from the 2nd Court of the Regional Business Court of Porto Alegre (RS).

In January 2022, just before the start of the school year, the network announced the closure of its school’s São Bernardo do Campo unit, taking students, parents and teachers by surprise.

The university’s Vergueiro campus was also put up for sale, to help pay off debts.

“This action is part of the institutional reorganization that has been taking place since 2021 and is supported by legal bases and, in this way, we will be able to reinvest in ongoing courses and offer new courses that are more in line with current market demand”, pointed out the note.

In addition to students and teachers, many former students used social media to lament Methodist’s decision.