Participatory methodologies at the National University, Costa Rica: a critical extension perspective

Abstract

Three substantive areas have comprised Latin American universities since the last century: teaching, research, and outreach. The latter is the pillar that enables the university's interaction with society, specifically with those vulnerable sectors of society, whether due to age, geographic location, social class, or other factors that limit emancipation and social equality. The situation described above prompts a constant rethinking of the ethical and political positioning of universities, as well as their social commitment in difficult times such as those we are experiencing today, in which the autonomy of public universities is threatened by market forces. For these reasons, it is essential to understand how to improve outreach practices to contribute to social transformation. This article presents the main results of a qualitative research project conducted at the Universidad Nacional (UNA) of Costa Rica. The objective was to identify and critically interpret the interaction between territories and the university's outreach teams based on case studies of programs and projects carried out at four of the university's campuses. From the perspectives and voices of the participating communities, we sought to understand the types of methodologies applied, contributions achieved, and challenges within the framework of critical outreach