Dynamics of the university volunteer program: contributions to the integral formation of students

Abstract

University volunteering is often incorporated into higher education as a practice of social outreach, without its internal dynamics and its contribution to integral and human development being systematically examined. Within this framework, the present study aims to characterize the dynamics of the university volunteering program at the Universidad Nacional Francisco Luis Espinoza Pineda (UNFLEP), focusing on participation modalities, institutional support, and articulation. The research was conducted under a quantitative approach, with a descriptive scope and a non-experimental, cross-sectional design. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to 59 student participants in the program. The analysis relied on descriptive statistics, which allowed the identification of participation patterns and meanings associated with the volunteering experience. Findings reveal a high level of institutional affiliation to the program, accompanied by predominantly occasional participation, conditioned by academic workload. This relationship highlights a gap between formal membership and effective engagement. Nevertheless,  volunteering is valued as a consistent formative space, contributing to the development of socio-emotional competencies, social responsibility, and community commitment. Greater articulation with teaching activities was observed compared to its integration into research and outreach. It is concluded that volunteering constitutes a relevant formative strategy, although its pedagogical scope is constrained by structural factors that limit sustained participation.