UNIVERSITY EXTENSION FOR ACADEMIC TRAINING IN BRAZIL

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Introduction: University extension plays a fundamental role in the formation of the academic community in Brazil, acting inseparably with teaching and research, which are fundamental in promoting essential services, such as medical assistance, legal guidance and educational support, in addition to foster knowledge about sustainable development and social inclusion. The participation of students in extension activities is a valuable learning opportunity, as it allows students to apply the knowledge acquired in the classroom to solve and/or mitigate real problems and meet the needs of the community, while local residents have the opportunity to share their knowledge and life experiences. These interventionist actions not only improve the quality of life of the communities served, but also promote the economic and social development of the country as a whole. Furthermore, extension strengthens ties between universities and society, making higher education more relevant and accessible. Objective: Understand the importance of extension for the formation of the academic community in Brazil. Methodological Procedures: Bibliographic research, based on the analysis and interpretation of fifteen articles on the highlighted topic. Results: The literature review showed that university extension in Brazil emerged in the twentieth century, with the expansion of Brazilian universities, and has since been part of the training of new academics. University extension, for a long time, was considered a welfare policy. Today, university extension is considered one of the inseparable pillars of higher education, and together with teaching and research, it constitutes the national curricular foundations of higher education. It is noted that the role of university extension is not merely to compose the students' training hours, but rather to contribute substantially to interdisciplinary professional training, through the dialogic interaction of the academic community with society, contemplating the exchange of knowledge , participation and contact with complex issues present in the social context, with a view to citizenship training for students, marked and constituted by the experience of their knowledge, in an interprofessional and interdisciplinary way. In this sense, there is a high range of extension projects being developed by Brazilian universities with a relevant impact on society. Conclusion: In summary, actions between the university and the community enable the expansion of both practical and theoretical knowledge, in addition to the construction of new knowledge, contributing to the student's comprehensive training and encouraging their formation as critical and responsible citizens.

KEYWORDS: community, university extension, academic training.