Abstract

CESPEDES, Yolanda  and  ZAMBRANO MORENO, Luisa Fernanda. Trends, conflicts and transformations in the research process of Distance Education: a particular case at VUAD. Educación [online]. 2019, vol.43, n.1, pp.345-363. ISSN 2215-2644.  http://dx.doi.org/10.15517/revedu.v43i1.29042.

The purpose of this article is to present the main findings of the project research by research groups and the semilleros (Seeds of Research) of the Vicerrectoría Universidad Abierta y Distancia (VUAD) of the Universidad Santo Tomás 2010-2014. The analysis of this research project is framed within the contributions of the substantive functions of the university: teaching, curriculum, social projection and internationalization. To establish such contributions, the indicators of the Modelo de Medicion de Colciencias of the year 2014 were proposed as a frame of reference and measurement, in order to have elements of quantitative analysis related to the scientific production (number of projects, articles, books, presentations or book chapters) and from the methodology, elements of qualitative analysis were taken such as the contribution of the projects in educational, social or economic fields that affected each of the substantive functions. The findings from this study show the correlation between the type of indicator of the projects that were approved in the research conventions and its contribution to the substantive functions of the University, as stated by Fabres (2005) "Teaching, Research and extension are the three substantive functions of Higher Education, which are closely related. It is impossible to talk about the academic component without taking research and extension into account" (p.2). Lastly, the research main topics are introduced in order to determine the investigative profile of the VUAD. To conclude, a series of considerations are given with the substantive functions of the University, providing a binding work scenario between the research processes, the aspects of the curriculum and the evaluation of it that have been developed in the different research at VUAD.

Keywords : Substantive functions; research; research groups; Seeds of research.

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