University extension in the Statutes of the State University of Campinas: an analysis of its conceptual framework

Abstract

ver its 56 years, the State University of Campinas, had at least 29 versions of its Statute. The Statutes, issued by Decree No. 52,255 of July 30, 1969, are documents that stipulate the purposes and constitution of the university, regulating its organization and general administrative aspects. Considering the current context of implementation of Resolution No. 07/2018 of the National Council of Education - which establishes the Guidelines for Extension in Brazilian Higher Education and imposes a set of principles, foundations and procedures to be observed in planning, policies, management and evaluation of Brazilian higher education institutions –, the objective of this research, of a bibliographical nature, was to compare the meanings and conceptions of University Extension that appear in the Statutes of Unicamp, considering its updates over the years of its existence. The persistence of an offerist conception of university extension - that which unilaterally departs from the research community to society - was identified in the first 54 years of the university. From 2020 onwards, the letter of the Statutes changes substantially, in response to the aforementioned Resolution, which makes it compulsory to incorporate, at least 10% of the total student curricular workload of undergraduate courses, of extension activities. Thus, the Statutes began to dedicate a specific title to the extension in its text and incorporated a conception of extension adapted to the National Policy of University Extension, consolidated in 2012 within the scope of the Forum of Pro-Rectors of Extension of the Brazilian Public Institutions of Higher Education.