the meeting brought together students and community representatives to discuss education, economics, and regional development
University, education, and society were central themes of the 1st Conexão LES Day, held by the Department of Economics, Administration, and Sociology (LES) at Esalq-USP, in partnership with Acipi and with the support of Pecege. The event promoted a meeting between the academic community and representatives of society to share knowledge and discuss relevant issues for Piracicaba and the surrounding region.
In the morning, more than 500 students learned about the undergraduate, graduate, and extension programs linked to the department. The schedule included conversations with students and professors as well as visits to university facilities, bringing young people closer to academic life.
In the afternoon, about 150 participants attended panels on topics such as the challenges of the economy in a changing global scenario, the impact of agribusiness on the Brazilian economy, youth development, sustainable development, and the economic situation.
Pecege’s support was also present in the event’s structure, highlighting the strength and integration of its solutions ecosystem. Participant registration and check-in were handled by Linka, while audiovisual coverage was provided by Chiaro, connecting different solutions within the ecosystem to contribute to the execution and experience of the event.
The purpose of the meeting was to strengthen dialogue among the university, companies, government, and the community. According to Associate Professor Eduardo Eugênio Spers, head of LES, this rapprochement allows academic knowledge to contribute to organizational decision-making and ensures that issues brought by companies and professionals feed into research and student training.
“It is an opportunity to think about projects and solutions and open our doors for people to bring their demands to the department. This way, we manage to sustain this cycle, which is the role of the university: teaching, research, and extension,” Spers stated.
The importance of bringing the university closer to the private sector was also highlighted by Prof. Dr. Pedro Marques, founder of Pecege. “The path is to take knowledge and ask what they need us to do, which sectors need research, and what they need to know. I am very happy to see the university approaching Acipi, which represents the private sector,” Marques said.
Pecege’s participation in the event was also tied to the institution’s history, which originated at LES and maintains ties with Esalq-USP.
“It is always great to come back home. Being able to share a bit of the history and trajectory of Pecege, which was born inside the department and took flight as an independent institution, is a gratifying experience,” stated Daniel Sonoda, CEO of Pecege.
The organizers expect that Conexão LES Day will serve as a starting point for new projects and initiatives. The continuation of this dialogue can further bridge academic training, knowledge production, and the demands of society.
