Abstract

MENA GARCIA, Priscilla; MONGE HERNANDEZ, Carmen  and  CHAVARRIA BRICENO, Randy. Conceptual approaches of categories of social reality linked to university extension. Rev. ABRA [online]. 2021, vol.41, n.62, pp.9-33. ISSN 2215-2997.  http://dx.doi.org/10.15359/abra.41-62.1.

Latin America presents great social and environmental challenges to sustainable human development, in which the statutory social mission associated with university outreach gains new value, relevance and priority in higher education. Currently, important questions and conceptual gaps arise in outreach efforts which involve critical and integrative content. This article shows the results of a conceptual analysis that highlight key aspects of the socio-environmental problems related to the university outreach process. The purpose of this analysis is to reflect on questions about social reality, referring to concepts such as society, environment, paradigms and social change. It is concluded that the definition of outreach is influenced by a worldview that determines the position of those who carry it out with respect to the categories it involves, which are addressed in the text and other sources, as well as the axiological and communications-related dimensions of the university as perceived by society. Adopting the vision of the critical and integrative outreach model entails a socio-political commitment of the university to making the professional and human improvement of its students a reality, responding to the altruistic ideology of the nation which this goal reflects.

Keywords : university extension; social change; society; environment; community..

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