ACTORES, ROLES Y POSICIONES SOBRE LA EXTENSIÓN UNIVERSITARIA Y LA UNIVERSIDAD PÚBLICA

Abstract

Conceived as members of the state apparatus, public universities do not escape the conflictive nature of the State itself as an arena for negotiation and confrontation.

The university commitment, represented by the extension function, continues to dispute its place in the academic world that imposes the logic of the scientific articles over extension tasks and addressing social, cultural, productive problems, among others.

Since its institutionalization with the University Reform of 1918 as the social function of the university, university extension has aried in its significance.

This shift is part of changes in the positions of state institutions and actors which can be traced in the production of specific programs, in strategic plans, in data records, and in countless instances, demonstrations, and applications of regulations.

We propose in this article to give an account of the nexus that associates and gives meaning to them, taking into account two clarifications. First, the network is historical, so the analysis assumes the idea of process.

The framework between sense and position taking will be examined from the years two thousand onwards. Second, this net does not constitute a self-contained, homogeneous and consistent entity; we find a multiplicity of actors, relationships and situations that put exploration at risk by projecting it to infinity.

Therefore, we will deal with three key actors in the current development of extension policies: the Secretariat of University Policies of the Ministry of Education of the Nation, the National Network of University Extension of the National Interuniversity Council and the Latin American Union of University Extension.