Central American university contributions to university management from the critical extension model

Abstract

The model of extension management in the Central American public university has evolved from a traditional perspective towards the approach of social-community and environmental problems, as actions to achieve integral university education and the collective production of new knowledge. The aim of the study is to document the contributions of University Extension Management in the integration of the substantive functions, the insertion of extension in the university curriculum and the practices in the territory carried out by six Central American universities. The research was carried out from a qualitative methodology through a descriptive, interpretative and reflexive approach, which takes the lenses of the theoretical and methodological approach of the critical extension model. The content review and analysis are carried out to recover and take advantage of the philosophical, historical, theoretical and methodological contents obtained during the extension process. Reflection includes the review of texts and discourses used in the documentation of contributions from universities. The study included the review of more than 750 university extension programs, projects and activities developed during the period 2018-2021. The results obtained demonstrate significant advances in the institutionalization actions of university extension in the participating universities through regulations, management structures and devices for planning, follow-up and monitoring. The progress obtained materializes the links between the universities and the various stakeholders, as well as the work methodologies defined with high participation of teachers, students and stakeholders in the territory.