Systematization of a Proposal for Community Engagement and Curriculum Articulation in Higher Education in Chile: The case of Psychology at the University of Aysén

Abstract

This work aims to present the systematization of the process of construction and implementation of a Community Engagement model (hereinafter VcM -in spanish) for the Psychology degree at the University of Aysén (hereinafter, the University); as well as their contributions and challenges to enhance the bridges between university engagement and curricular articulation. The systematized engagement model proposes to consider a community approach in a transversal way, which integrates training in participatory methodologies, intervention and community strengthening, public policies and evaluation of psychosocial projects.

During 2021 and 2022, this model was implemented, which involved working together with various units of the University and social agents together. All of the above, aligned with the Institutional Educational Model, the VcM guidelines, and the curricular itinerary of the degree, considering interline articulations that aim at the development of performance criteria in the practical field.

Through a mixed investigative approach, multi-state diagnoses were constructed together with community partners. The systematization shows the good results in terms of teaching-learning management in VcM, with emphasis on bidirectionality and territorial relevance. On the other hand, the experience challenges the need for greater community-university articulation, considering the importance of the curricular itinerary to improve evaluation processes, with the participation of social agents, allowing the perfectibility of the curriculum based on the needs of the communities themselves.