The Ministry of Education (MEC) recently published the administrative order regulating Decree No. 12,456/2025, which establishes guidelines for the provision of distance learning undergraduate programs in Brazil. The new rules aim to improve the quality of distance higher education, with clearer requirements regarding faculty training, infrastructure, assessment, and the operation of distance learning centers.

The regulations stipulate that faculty members at institutions of higher education must hold a graduate degree, preferably a master’s or doctoral degree. They must work in fields related to their academic training, in accordance with the National Curriculum Guidelines.

The new rules also require that courses offered partially or entirely through distance learning must have a minimum duration of ten weeks and include at least one mandatory in-person learning assessment.

On the technological front, the ordinance reinforces the criteria set forth in the Quality Standards for Distance Learning Courses, which include the provision of accessible instructional materials and digital platforms that support the teaching-and-learning process.

Distance Learning Centers 

Distance Learning Centers are also subject to new requirements. Institutions must ensure that their infrastructure is compatible with the number of available spots and will be subject to on-site monitoring by the Ministry of Education (MEC). In addition, a new limit has been established on the number of centers that can be created annually, which varies according to the academic organization and institutional profile of the educational institution.

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If deficiencies in infrastructure, irregularities, or a mismatch between the number of students and the available facilities are identified, the Secretariat for the Regulation and Supervision of Higher Education (Seres) may temporarily suspend the establishment of new campuses.

The regulations also allow for partnerships between institutions, provided that one of them operates exclusively in the in-person format. In such cases, the partnership must be formalized through a specific agreement and comply with criteria such as the exclusivity of the partnership and the clear identification of the institutions involved.

Higher education institutions will have two years to comply with the new requirements. However, applications for authorization and the creation of courses submitted after the decree is published must comply with the rules immediately.

Source: Ministry of Education.

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