From the Brazilian semiarid to university: the incorporation of a Cooperative Learning project as academic extension

Bruno De Souza Lessa,Ana Clara Aparecida Alves De Souza,José Carlos Lázaro Da Silva-Filho

doi:10.1186/s40552-016-0015-6

Abstract

The interaction between university and its surrounding communities is vital for society. The incorporation of social initiatives as formal university extension programs can tackle different social demands, strengthening the “extension” pillar of the tripod that underpins Brazilian universities. The Program of Education in Cooperative Cells (PRECE, in Portuguese) has been preparing students from the semiarid region to face the entrance exam of the Federal University of Ceara (UFC, in Portuguese). PRECE was idealized by a group of youngsters living in the semiarid region of the state, in the municipality of Pentecoste. This study had the objective to evidence PRECE’s trajectory, foregrounding its incorporation as an extension program by the UFC. This research was qualitative, analyzing the program and its relationship with the University. Interviews were performed with the managerial team and with people in charge of its coordination as a university extension program. In this sense, the study sought to identify the essential elements for Cooperative Learning suggested by Johnson and Johnson (Asia Pac J Educ 22:95–105, 2002). The findings brought forward the trajectory enabling the incorporation of PRECE as an extension program and its alignment with Cooperative Learning essential elements. The research contributes with the reflection about the factors necessary to integrate university and community through the assimilation of social initiatives.

Highlights

The development of social competences, besides academic ones, is increasingly important once it is essential for students to learn how to interact and cooperate
Regarding the use of Cooperative Learning in Brazil, an initiative called Programa de Educação em Células Cooperativas (PRECE—Program of Education in Cooperative Cells in Portuguese) has been operating with CL elements for more than two decades, helping individuals from the poor semiarid region of Ceará, a state located in the Brazilian northeast, to go to university
Information available in PRECE and PACCE’s websites were added to the databank

Summary

Introduction

The development of social competences, besides academic ones, is increasingly important once it is essential for students to learn how to interact and cooperate. Aiming at contributing with such successful initiative, the Federal University of Ceará (hereby called by its Portuguese acronym UFC) incorporated PRECE as an extension program (PRECE 2015). It presents an initiative that has been empowering students from vulnerable social conditions and its incorporation as an extension program by a public university. It shows how an alternative form of learning has been functioning in the Brazilian undergraduate sphere. At last, it demonstrates how the establishment of such partnership has been fruitful for the stakeholders involved and the extent of its effectiveness, aligned with Johnson and Johnson (2002)

Background

Methods

Conclusions