Estrategias universitarias de educación e investigación en la Tercera Misión para el cumplimiento de los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64736/ueplc.2025.v8.n1.4Palabras clave:
universidad, educación ambiental, igualdad de género, investigación, desarrollo sostenible, enseñanza superiorResumen
Este estudio de caso describe cómo la Universidad Metropolitana del Ecuador (UMET, matriz Guayaquil) ha avanzado en la institucionalización de la Tercera Misión al articular proyectos comunitarios con los ODS 3, 4, 5, 11 y 12. Bajo un diseño descriptivo-analítico, se combinaron análisis documental de seis proyectos (salud sexual y reproductiva, igualdad de género, educación en valores y reciclaje) y entrevistas semiestructuradas a docentes con trayectoria en vinculación. Los resultados muestran participación activa de estudiantes y profesores, articulación con docencia e investigación y alianzas con escuelas, gobiernos locales y organizaciones, con efectos inmediatos: aumento de conocimientos en salud sexual, empoderamiento femenino y reinserción social, mejoras en convivencia escolar y cambios de hábitos ambientales. Al mismo tiempo, se evidencian limitaciones en evaluación de impacto social de largo plazo, estandarización de indicadores y plena integración curricular, así como cierta fragmentación entre iniciativas. La discusión sitúa estos hallazgos en el marco internacional sobre universidades y sostenibilidad, resaltando que la pertinencia y legitimidad se fortalecen cuando existen políticas institucionales claras, mecanismos de monitoreo y alineación con políticas públicas nacionales. Se concluye que la Tercera Misión puede operar como motor de innovación social y formación profesional situada; se recomienda profundizar la gobernanza, integrar la vinculación en el currículo y robustecer métricas longitudinales para valorar transformaciones comunitarias.
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Derechos de autor 2025 Margarita del Pilar Luque Espinoza de los Monteros, Reinaldo Requeiro Almeida

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