Aprender en territorio: aportes de los proyectos de extensión y voluntariado a la formación de estudiantes de ingeniería agronómica de la Universidad Nacional de Río Negro

Abstract

Extension and volunteer projects are initiatives that connect knowledge and academic work with society and its environment. These projects aim to transfer knowledge, skills and technologies developed at the university to the community to address local, regional or national problems. They can involve various disciplines and approaches. The objectives of this study were (i) to describe the activities developed in the university extension and volunteering projects (PEyVU) of the National University of Río Negro (UNRN) and (ii) to characterize the competencies acquired by Agronomy students. To meet these objectives, a mixed methodology (qualitative and quantitative) was used, combining documentary analysis (of PEyVU regulations and proposals) with a survey which wondered aspects such as: reasons for participation, time of participation, reasons for dropping out, main activities carried out and applied, acquired or not used-competencies. In addition, to describe the social and academic environment in which the activities were performed and to identify developed competencies, final reports of the most relevant projects, the career plan and the UNRN regulations were analyzed. The results showed that participation in PEyVU allowed students to fulfill academic requirements, enrich their professional training and develop necessary life skills. The diversity of contexts and actors in PEyVU promoted different categories of technical, methodological, social and participatory competencies. Students mainly emphasized the application of social and participatory skills, as well as the acquisition of technical and methodological competencies.