Abstract:

This article aims to analyze the scope of the Brazilian university as a builder of new knowledge, when using reflective thinking as a means for the social-ethical issue inclusion in professionals' formation.

The exploratory bibliographic research seeks to analyze three challenging aspects for the Brazilian university:
1. turn it into an effective place of creation and criticism;
2. promote the construction of knowledge applied to the local reality;
3. counterbalance the mercantilization of academic teaching.

The results demonstrate that enabling the training of professionals with high social and ethical values is of great importance for the development of higher education in Brazil, however, for this to be truly applied, a restructuring in the way of teaching and learning is necessary. It should be based on the reflective thinking applied in technological, legal and educational research. The conclusions express that universalizing knowledge is directly interconnected with the research and teaching relationship. Research cannot be far from the act of educating reflexively. By moving away from research, the university discards the opportunity to position itself as the center of human development and as an instrument for the reconstruction of innovative knowledge, ethics and reflection.

Keywords:

Education in Brazil, higher education, reflective thinking, professional training, mercantilization of academic teaching.