Entrevista | Extensão na UFPR

Summary

The video discusses the importance of integrating extension programs into university education, with a focus on a federal law mandating that 10% of undergraduate coursework involves extension activities by 2024. The speakers, Leandro Franco de Godoy and Dorneles de Souza Júnior from UFPR, emphasize that extension helps bridge academic knowledge with real-world community issues. They also highlight the evolving role of extension, moving from an assistentialist view to a collaborative knowledge-building process. The discussion underscores the impact of extension on student formation, preparing them for complex societal challenges.

Takeaways

• 📚 Universities operate in three dimensions: teaching, research, and extension, which are essential to their designation as universities.
• 🔍 By 2024, at least 10% of undergraduate course hours must include extension activities, as mandated by national education law.
• 💼 The integration of extension into the curriculum is a gradual process involving collaboration with the academic community, including students, professors, and staff.
• 🎓 Extension activities provide academic learning beyond the classroom and are based on five principles: impact, transformation, interdisciplinarity, societal interaction, and the integration of teaching, research, and extension.
• 🤝 Extension today emphasizes building knowledge in partnership with society, rather than a one-way transfer of knowledge from the university to the community.
• 🌍 The new approach to extension focuses on engaging students with real-world community problems and using their academic knowledge to address social issues.
• 📝 A new resolution from the National Education Council formalizes the role of extension in higher education, making it a requirement for all undergraduate courses.
• 💡 The resolution also strengthens the financial support and evaluation of extension activities, impacting the overall ranking of universities.
• 📊 Extension activities are now part of the criteria for evaluating university courses, which will affect their general course ratings and institutional rankings.
• 🌱 Universities are learning from successful extension accreditation examples from other institutions to implement these changes, which aim to produce graduates with stronger societal engagement and problem-solving skills.

Q & A

What are the three dimensions that a university operates in?

A university operates in three dimensions: teaching, research, and extension. These areas must be integrated for an institution to be recognized as a university.

What is the significance of extension in university education, according to the National Education Plan?

The National Education Plan (PNE) mandates that by 2024, at least 10% of the courses or academic hours in undergraduate programs must be dedicated to extension activities. This emphasizes the role of extension in enhancing education.

How has the UFPR been preparing to meet the extension requirements set by the PNE?

UFPR has been engaging in extensive dialogue with the academic community, including students, professors, and technical staff. Since the beginning of the administration, UFPR has organized seminars and discussions to define the accreditation model for extension, learning from both internal experiences and external examples.

How has the concept of extension evolved over time?

Extension has evolved from being primarily focused on assistance and service to a more collaborative model. Today, it is seen as academic training beyond the classroom, emphasizing societal engagement and the joint construction of knowledge between the university and the community.

What are the key principles of extension as explained in the transcript?

The key principles of extension include impact and transformation, interdisciplinarity, interaction with society, the inseparability of teaching, research, and extension, and the significant impact on student training.

What is the purpose of accreditation in extension?

The purpose of extension accreditation is to count 10% of a student's academic hours as part of their formative experience through extension programs or projects. This is not merely social assistance but a process where students apply their classroom knowledge to real community issues.

What recent changes have been introduced by the National Council of Education regarding extension?

The National Council of Education issued a resolution that formally recognizes extension for the first time and mandates that all undergraduate courses include documentation and evaluations of their extension activities. This is considered a major milestone for higher education.

How will extension activities impact the evaluation and classification of universities?

Extension activities will now be included in the general evaluation of university courses, contributing to the overall ranking of universities in Brazil. This reinforces the importance of extension in determining a university’s standing.

What examples of successful extension accreditation models were mentioned?

UFPR has studied successful extension accreditation models from other institutions, particularly from forums and seminars, and is working on adapting these models to fit its own administrative structure.

How will extension influence the profile of students graduating after 2024?

Students graduating after 2024 will be more community-oriented and engaged with complex social issues. They will develop new skills, both within and beyond their field of study, making them better prepared for the labor market.