ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING TOWARD TO THE XV ULEU CONGRESS
Within the framework of the organization of the XV Latin American and Caribbean University Extension Congress to be held from June 25 to 28, 2019 at the National University of the East (UNE), the University Extension Network of Paraguay (REXUNPY) and the Extension Network UNE (REXUNE), work together, so last Friday was the presentation of the regulations and the general logistics of the event, to the extension representatives of public universities and extension directors of the UNE, in the auditorium of the Rector’s Office
In this regard Lic. Lourdes Coronel, coordinator of the Network of University Extension of Paraguay (REXUNPY) and Director of the University Extension Program (PREXU) of the National University of Pilar (UNP), explained that the REXUNPY brings together the eight public universities.
She spoke of the importance of the Congress and extended the invitation to teachers, non-teaching officials and especially to the community that works and also participates in community work with the different universities in the work areas.
«This is an activity of utmost importance for what is the university extension at a national and Latin American level and share the experience of colleagues who are fulfilling the substantive role in the different countries that make up the Latin American Union of Extension”, she said.
She pointed out that it is «important for Paraguay, since the scaffolding of our country is still incipient, young and we need to grow through and from the learning of the other universities and share what we are doing with them as well,» she remarked.
In many Latin American universities, extension is understood as one of the three fundamental university functions: teaching, research and extension. The extension considers education as a social public good and a human and universal right.
In the National University of Pilar, the prevailing paradigm in the field of University Extension is the model of integral and totalizing development, considers the bi-directional relationship of the university with its surroundings, looking for in a joint way the solution to the diverse problems that are presented in the medium, from a democratic, autonomous, critical and creative university; it is for this reason and under this paradigm that we work with all sectors of the community and the extension agents can be: teachers, professionals, technicians, university students, members of the community, among others.
It should be remembered that the first Extension Congress of Paraguay was held at the UNP and the University Extension Network of Paraguay was created there. The UNP was the first house of high studies to obtain a budget from the State to promote projects and extension programs.
