Brasil Mais TI

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A free, distance-learning platform providing online IT and software development courses to develop the skilled workforce needed for careers in Brazil's technology sector.
What are the main aims and objectives?

Brasil Mais TI is a federal government initiative designed to address Brazil's critical shortage of qualified information technology professionals and the high dropout rate in technology higher education. The program aims to accelerate workforce training in the IT sector by providing free, accessible online courses to individuals aged 16 and older seeking IT career opportunities. Recognizing that traditional education pathways produce insufficient graduates for industry demand, Brasil Mais TI targets the estimated deficit of 408,000 IT professionals projected for 2022, which could generate a loss of R$167 billion in revenue for the Brazilian IT industry. The program seeks to develop practical skills and competencies aligned with actual market demands rather than relying solely on academic curricula that may lag behind industry needs. By providing no-cost access to training regardless of geographic location or socioeconomic status, Brasil Mais TI aims to promote diversity and inclusion in IT careers, including active recruitment of women and underrepresented communities. Beyond skills development, the program integrates job market access mechanisms connecting trained professionals with employment opportunities, facilitating transition from training to employment in the IT sector.

How does the program work?

Brasil Mais TI operates as a distance-learning platform providing over 35 free online courses covering IT topics from basic introduction through advanced programming languages. Each course averages approximately 20 hours of instruction and can be accessed through the program website (www.brasilmaisti.com.br). The platform serves approximately 240,000 registered users with over 500,000 course enrollments in progress. Students can enroll in up to two courses simultaneously, and registration is free and open to anyone aged 16 and older without selective admission requirements.​

The program incorporates gamification techniques, combining game-based elements with educational content to increase engagement and motivation among distance learners. Course topics include foundational offerings (BrOffice applications, systems connectivity, operating systems, applied mathematics, computer networks) and programming courses (Web page programming, Java, .NET, COBOL, ADVPL programming, algorithm development).​

A critical feature is the integrated free job portal enabling candidates to post resumes, apply for IT sector jobs, and access employment opportunities. Companies can register vacancies for free and search candidate profiles. Advanced job matching tools enable students to assess their skill match with job opportunities, identifying which competencies they possess versus what each position requires. An automated job bot extracts opportunities from major IT job sites, continuously updating available positions.​

The program operates through three integrated functions: (1) Knowledge (course content), (2) Training and Development (practical competency-building), and (3) Opportunities (direct connection to job market). Social media engagement through Facebook and Twitter provides information about the IT job market, industry-related content, and career information to maintain user engagement.​

Management responsibility has been assigned to Softex (Association for the Promotion of Excellence of Brazilian Software) since December 2016, following competitive procurement where Softex scored 8.7/10 against other bidders. The program is coordinated through partnerships between the Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovations and Communications (MCTI) and the Ministry of Education (MEC), providing institutional support and policy oversight.

What is the overall cost?

The annual cost of the program is not known, however, the second phase of Brasil Mais TI (launched September 2013) received an investment of approximately R$12 million Brazilian reals (approximately USD 5.8 million), with approximately R$8 million (USD 3.9 million) from the Ministry of Education (MEC) and the remainder from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI).​

How was it implemented?

Brasil Mais TI was established in 2012 as an initiative of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) and the Ministry of Education (MEC), with support from Brasscom (Brazilian Association of Information Technology and Communication Companies). The program was conceived in response to the documented critical shortage of IT professionals—research by Brasscom in 2015 indicated that the dropout rate from higher education technology courses reached 82%, creating a significant talent pipeline problem.​

The initial pilot phase launched in September 2012 with nine free online courses covering introduction to IT and foundational technical skills. Rapid adoption exceeded initial expectations: within the first year by September 2013, 104,182 young people had been trained when only 50,000 had been projected for 2014. However, early data revealed that approximately 13% of enrolled students completed courses, indicating a high attrition challenge requiring program refinement.​

In September 2013, the program launched its second phase with expanded offerings and enhanced engagement mechanisms. This phase included expansion of social media presence on Facebook and Twitter, incorporation of gamification elements to increase engagement, development of interactive and dynamic content, expansion from 30 courses to an extended catalog, and integration of a free job portal linking graduates with employment opportunities. By 2014, the program had over 150,000 registered users, more than 287,000 completed courses, and 43,000 active students enrolled in specific programs.​

In December 2016, Softex (Association for the Promotion of Excellence of Brazilian Software) was officially selected through competitive procurement to manage and administer Brasil Mais TI. Softex won the management tender with a score of 8.7/10, becoming responsible for platform management, course development, and administration. The program was integrated into the broader Strategic Program for Software and IT Services (TI Maior) as a key workforce development component.​

The program operates through distance-learning infrastructure provided by a dedicated website platform (brasilmaisti.com.br) with course content designed by technical experts and industry professionals. Curriculum reflects market demands rather than purely academic orientation, and the platform provides gamification and interactive elements to address engagement and completion challenges inherent in distance learning formats.

What impact has been measured?

Brasil Mais TI has achieved substantial reach: approximately 240,000 registered users with over 500,000 course enrollments in progress, distributed across all Brazilian states with particular strength in the Southeast region. The program demonstrates strong demand for accessible IT training with no enrollment barriers.​

Historical growth trajectory shows: 10,000+ students registered within the first months (2012), 104,182 trained in the first full year (2013), 150,000+ registered users by 2014 with 287,000+ completed courses, and 345,000+ registered students by 2015 with 800 hours of available courses.

What lessons can be learned?
  • Persistently high attrition rates: Early documented completion rates of approximately 13% represent a fundamental limitation indicating that free online access attracts participants but does not automatically translate to learning outcomes or meaningful training completion. No evidence exists that subsequent gamification and interactivity enhancements substantially improved completion rates.​
  • Limited impact measurement infrastructure: The absence of rigorous impact evaluations means the program cannot demonstrate whether it is effectively developing IT skills, facilitating employment, or addressing the documented workforce shortage at the sector level. This evaluation gap limits evidence-based improvement opportunities.​
  • Modest scale relative to market need: Despite reaching 240,000 users, this represents a small fraction of the estimated 408,000 IT professional shortage projected for 2022, raising questions about program scalability relative to actual market demand.​
  • Insufficient learner support services: The program focuses on content provision rather than learner support, with no documented evidence of mentorship, personalized guidance, technical support for struggling learners, or career counseling to address barriers to completion and employment.
  • Distance learning effectiveness challenges: The 82% higher education technology dropout rate suggests that structural challenges with distance learning formats may persist even with enhanced content design, indicating that course design alone may be insufficient to overcome completion barriers.​
  • Unclear employment connection effectiveness: While the program integrates a job portal, no evidence documents whether employers actively recruit through this channel or whether completers successfully obtain IT positions through the platform.​
  • Lesson on accessibility vs. outcomes: Brasil Mais TI demonstrates that removing cost barriers and providing flexible access creates high demand for training, but accessibility alone does not guarantee meaningful skill development or employment outcomes without complementary support systems.

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