Management of university extension: case of the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua, Managua (UNAN-Managua)

Abstract

University extension, considered one of the main functions of Higher Education Institutions and recognized under the same conditions as training and research, assumes as its goal the link between the University and Society, known in some cases as social linkage, social projection, community linkage, linkage with the environment, third mission, among other names. At UNAN-Managua, it is recognized as a key process that, in coordination with the other two processes, is transformed into a pedagogical medium that contributes to the transfer of knowledge generated from the university to society, promoting a bidirectional relationship that encourages the exchange of knowledge, the solution of local problems and the development of communities. The objective of this article is to analyze the foundations and ways of doing university extension at UNAN-Managua, a brief overview of the development of university extension to the present is made, the importance of the articulation of the three main functions of universities is highlighted, such as: training, research and extension; recognizing the efforts of the Government of Reconciliation and National Unity (GRUN), in the fight against poverty and human development, expressed in national policies such as the National Education Strategy in All its Modalities “Blessings and Victories” 2024-2026 and the National Plan to Fight Poverty for Human Development 2022-2026; The university contributing significantly to the implementation of these strategies and guidelines from the different spaces of each of the key processes of university work and highlighting the role of university extension as a transforming function of social impact and mediator, promoting the dialogue of knowledge given during the transfer of UniversitySociety knowledge, to  contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of Nicaraguan families.