EMPRESAS JUNIORES DE GASTRONOMIA NAS UNIVERSIDADES FEDERAIS BRASILEIRAS.

Abstract

The Junior Enterprise Movement (MEJ) has been consolidating in Brazil as an initiative that connects the academic environment to the market through entrepreneurial and innovative experiences. Although its presence is significant in fields such as Business Administration, Engineering, and Technology, its visibility remains low in other areas, especially Gastronomy. In this context, this study investigates the landscape of Gastronomy Junior Enterprises in Brazilian Federal Universities, identifying their distribution, modes of operation, and the main challenges they face. A significant scarcity of literature specifically addressing the intersection between Gastronomy and academic entrepreneurship was identified. The research, with a qualitative approach, applied nature, and descriptive and exploratory objectives, employed documental analysis, online interviews with members of Gastronomy Junior Enterprises, analysis of data available on networks and official movement platforms, in addition to a literature review. The results showed that the most recurrent challenges faced by these organizations are legal formalization, high turnover of members, and lack of adequate infrastructure.