Avaliação para as ações de extensão na Universidade Federal de Santa Maria

Abstract

This research was developed with the Graduate Program in Public Policy and Educational Management, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM-RS), Research Line "Policies and Management of Basic and Higher Education"linked to the set of productions of the umbrella research project "Public Policies and educational management: academic and professional research in education involved with Basic and/or Higher Education"group of Studies and Research in Educational Policies and Management REDES/UFSM. It addresses the theme of the evaluation of university extension from the following problem: how to evaluate the extension actions developed in UFSM-RS? It was defined by general objective to understand the process of evaluation of university extension actions in UFSM and, specifically, it was prioritized: build the state of knowledge about the evaluation of university extension, analyze the theoretical legal frameworks of university extension in the national and local context, investigate how the extension actions developed at UFSM are constituted and propose guidelines for evaluation of university extension in this institution. The research presents a qualitative approach, as it seeks to find complementarity and enrichment in the methodological path and constitutes itself as a research implicated in the context of higher education in UFSM. In addition, it is characterized by the methodological choice of the case study, encompassing a comprehensive variety of evidence (YIN, 2001). For the accomplishment, it was used as research techniques the state of knowledge, the documentary research of legislations about the university extension in the national and local context, as well as an online questionnaire with open and closed questions with the research subjects, students and coordinators of undergraduate courses at UFSM. As a method of analysis, it was based on content analysis (BARDIN, 2011). It was evidenced, in the analysis, from the findings in the questionnaires intertwined with the theoretical references and legal documents, the following categories and subcategories that relate to the theme of the evaluation of the university extension (institutional regulations, conception and valuation of university extension; Infrastructure: physical and operational structure, information systems and accessibility of information); University-Society Relationship (community listening and social impact); Academic Plan (curricularization of extension; articulation extension, teaching and research, impact on student training and participation in extension actions); and Academic Production (extension training, dissemination of results of actions and institutional registration of actions). In general, it was found that the evaluation of university extension is a challenge for the management of universities. It was noticed that the theme of extension evaluation is recognized by the participating groups, but progress is needed towards consolidated practices and institutional regulations on the subject, corroborates with the findings obtained through the investigation of institutional documents and theoretical references. The resulting educational product is a Draft Resolution that establishes the Guidelines for the Evaluation of University Extension under the UFSM-RS, which aims to contribute to the fulfillment of legal and institutional provisions that bring the evaluation of extension as part of the extensionist work in universities. Finally, it is stated that the product may contribute to the establishment of extension evaluation procedures in the context of UFSM, as well as contribute globally to the appreciation of university extension.