DISEÑO Y UNIVERSIDAD: UNA PERSPECTIVA SOBRE LAS DIFERENCIAS REGIONALES

The field of design as an area of knowledge plays a crucial role in regional development. However, another concept important for local development is sustainability, which encompasses economic, social, and environmental factors. In this context, the article seeks to analyze the presence of design in public educational institutions in the Amazon region compared to other regions of the country. Additionally, it aims to assess the approach to sustainability within design programs in the Legal Brazilian Amazon. To achieve this, a survey of undergraduate and postgraduate (Stricto Sensu) design programs was conducted, along with an investigation to identify research groups, research and extension projects, and intellectual production in 2021. Statistical analysis was applied to the collected data. The results revealed significant disparities in the presence of design in higher education across different regions of the country. The northern region, which encompasses seven out of nine states in the Amazon Region, had the lowest quantity of design education and research in the country. It is evident that design programs are more prevalent in regions with higher urbanization and industrialization rates, whereas the Amazon region demonstrates a lower presence and discussion of design compared to other areas.