Added value of institutions of higher learning in Minas Gerais State for courses in law, administration, and civil engineering

This article presents the results of a study employing the added value meth odology to evaluate the effect of institutions of higher learning in Minas Gerais States on the, performance of their students in the so-called joint National Board Exams (Provao). The added value methodology allows to contro l substantive factors influencing academic performance and to capture the s pecific effect of a teaching institution on the students' final performance . The purpose is to help clarify and improve the procedures for evaluating institutions of higher learning as an important instrument for policy-makin g in education.