University extension in Brazil and its challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic

• Autor(a) principal: Mélo, Cláudia Batista
• Data de Publicação: 2021
• Outros Autores: Farias, Gabrieli Duarte, Nunes, Vitória Régia Rolim, Andrade, Tifany Shela Albuquerque Borba de, Piagge, Carmem Silvia Laureano Dalle
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Research, Society and Development
• Texto Completo: https://rsdjournal.org/index.php/rsd/article/view/12991
• topic: COVID-19; Extension; Higher Education Institutions; Teaching.; COVID-19; Ensenãnza; Extensión; Instituciones de educación superior.; COVID-19; Ensino; Extensão; Instituições de ensino superior.

The current scenario, permeated by challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, caused the extension actions promoted by Brazilian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to be adapted. The aim of this study is to portray the paths taken by such institutions to adapt existing actions and develop new ones that meet the needs found. This work is characterized as documentary, descriptive, qualitative and quantitative research on the academic extension during the COVID-19 pandemic. Primary data were used in the public domain, such as edicts, regulations and news available on the institutions' websites, seeking to answer pre-established variables. The population (129) boarded the federal and state HEIs available on the e-MEC website, with sample 126. As part of the results found, 87.5% of the public HEIs chose to continue extension actions during 2020, with 87.9% being adapted and 71.8% with easing of standards. Extension modalities, such as projects (90.3%), programs (75%), courses (78.2%) and events (75%), were significantly performed. However, only 51% of the HEIs provided services. Actions aimed at confronting COVID-19 involved the provision of information (34%), preparation/delivery of materials intended for prevention (12%) and case care (4%).  24% of the institutions published an extension notice valid for 2021 with adaptations to the pandemic, while 38% published an unsuitable notice. Can be concluded that the extension was adapted to the needs triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic and coping actions were developed to mitigate the pandemic scenario.