Conceptions and practices of University Extension at the University of Brasília
University Extension; conceptions; practices; training; policy
University extension has the role of dialoguing with society, responding to its demands and expectations, recognizing diversity, values and culture. At the University of Brasilia, the principle of inseparability between teaching, research and extension is present in the organization of pedagogical processes, in the development of didactic-scientific activities and in the guideline of extension action. The present study has the general objective of analyzing the contribution of extension services to students' education based on the conceptions of the actors involved and the practices developed in extension projects at the Exact Sciences Institute. An exploratory research was carried out, with a qualitative approach, based on a bibliographical and documentary survey and semi-structured interviews with participants in the Institute's extension projects. Data were interpreted from three categories of analysis: conception of university extension, function of university extension and inclusion of extension in the curriculum. It was found that the participants' conceptions of extension are close to an academic conception, coherent with the conceptions and meanings postulated in the Institutional Pedagogical Political Project, since the actions are guided by the inseparability between teaching, research and extension, promotion of events and transfer of technologies and in the dialogical relationship with a view to oxygenating the university and transforming society. While associated with the function of teaching, extension proves to add quality to academic training, providing more creative and innovative learning, so that at the end of the training process, the individual is able to act critically in society.