THE SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF GRADUATE EDUCATION IN THE STATE OF MATO GROSSO (MT): AN ANALYSIS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF DENSITIES

Abstract

This article analyzes the territorial distribution of stricto sensu graduate programs in the state of Mato Grosso based on the concept of institutional density, understood as the presence and articulation of institutions capable of promoting regional development processes. The study is grounded in authors such as Clarke, Rodríguez-Pose, Wright, Morosini, and Soares, discussing the relationship between educational institutions, access to advanced training, and the expansion of social, economic, and scientific capacities within territories. Methodologically, data from the Sucupira Platform/CAPES were used, organized according to major fields of knowledge and represented through graphs and maps produced using Google Sheets and QGIS software. The results indicate a strong concentration of graduate programs in the capital city of Cuiabá, as well as the existence of regional centers in municipalities such as Rondonópolis, Cáceres, Sinop, and Barra do Garças. The findings reveal the predominance of Multidisciplinary Studies, Human Sciences, and Agricultural Sciences, while Engineering and Exact and Earth Sciences show lower territorial presence. It is concluded that the unequal distribution of graduate education in Mato Grosso highlights challenges related to the interiorization of scientific training, regionalized access to qualifications, and territorial development possibilities, reinforcing the relevance of institutional densities in reducing regional inequalities.