Considered one of the most traditional and rigid Brazilian schools of higher education in Engineering, the Institute of Aeronautical Technology (Instituto Tecnológico da Aeronáutica, ITA) completes 60 years with plans to expand for the first time.

The goal of the institute is to double the number of vacancies in graduation courses within five years, with annual increases of 20% - which would lead to a total of 1200 students.

The institute intends not to create new courses. Currently, 586 students are matriculated in six different courses: Aeronautical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Aeronautical Engineering, Civil Aeronautics, Computer Engineering and Aerospace Engineering. "But there is the intention of some teachers to implement Engineering Physics and Materials Engineering," says the dean of the ITA, Brigadier Reginaldo dos Santos. According to him, it is also possible to think of a postgraduate course in human sciences and mathematics.

Located in Sao Jose dos Campos, 90 km from Sao Paulo, the ITA was created by a law signed by then President Getúlio Vargas as an institution under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defence, not the Ministry of Education, as the Brazilian universities.

To expand the ITA, the institute estimates total costs of R$ 130 million: R$ 100 million for new constructions and an additional R$ 30 million for furniture, laboratories and personnel. Currently, the project is under formal submission to the Ministry of Defence and should also be taken to the Ministry of Education (MEC) and the business community to seek partnerships.

• Institute of Aeronautical Technology (ITA) will double vacancies in graduation courses