In the context of the business management managerial competencieshave been discussed, and their articulation should culminate with the achievement of organizational goals. This logic has penetrated the field of public administration. The federal universities have been implementing changes since the mid-1990s, when the government attempted to implement the "managerial public administration" philosophy. The aim of the paper is to analyze the competenciesattributed to the presidents of federal universities, with the expectation of contributing to a greater understanding of their actions. For this purpose, deans vice chancellors and pro-rectors from eight federal universities, all of which are located in Minas Gerais State, were interviewed. The results show the dominance of political competence, albeit lacking the domination of others considered relevant for public managers.
University administration; Managerial competencies; Political competence; Rectors' competencies
