Learning from the University-Society link: A qualitative approach based on experiences from university community work (2021–2023)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15517/rr.v107i1.00001Keywords:
Active learning, Community participation, Professional training, Knowledge exchange, University Social ResponsibilityAbstract
Introduction: In various academic settings at the university level, engagement with society is promoted as an integral part of students’ learning curriculum. At the University of Costa Rica (UCR), and as a reflection of its humanistic, public, and common-good-oriented mission, the University Community Work (TCU) program has been established. This mechanism facilitates the exchange of knowledge and the recognition of national realities for both teaching staff and future professionals, while simultaneously contributing to vulnerable sectors in pursuit of equity and sustainable development.
Objective: To identify the contributions of the University Community Work experience to university learning within a framework of interdisciplinarity and collaboration with community-based organizations.
Method: Through qualitative techniques such as document review, consultations, and dialogue with people involved, from both the university sector and the organized community groups, the study aimed to describe and reflect on the contributions of the TCU experience in an open format guided by guiding questions. The analysis focuses on two long-standing projects with more than ten years of presence, particularly during the period from 2021 to 2023, which includes the adaptation to virtual environments due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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