University’s social responsibility: A fundamental component in future educators’ training from the Education program, in Salesian Polytechnic University

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to establish the practical and theoretical University Social Responsibility (USR) guidelines to conduct from teaching, the students´ training in the School of Education at the Politecnica Salesiana University (UPS), Quito (Q). Regarding the methodological approach, the investigation developed within two necessary moments: in the first one the conceptual guidelines of USR were established both in university and institutional settings. In the second moment, a case study was conducted by the School of Education from UPS-Q and covered three different levels: directors, teachers and students, through a mixed approach: qualitative and quantitative. The qualitative gathered data and information through in-depth interviews to members of the Board of Faculty and focus groups of 10 randomly selected students from levels on the 4th, 6th and 8th. The quantitative approach was guided through a survey applied to the entire group of teachers. Finally, it was established that there is no clear definition about RSU at managerial, teachers and students level from the School of Education at UPS-Q, being a concept under construction. Nonetheless, the UPS idea of compromise underlies towards the most deprived social sectors that is expressed through the educational objectives of its students.