University and social change in times of crisis: Description and assessment of an alternative teaching practice.

Abstract

This paper describes and analyzes a university teaching practice in the street by adapting the content of some subjects to social problems caused by the economic crisis. A focus group with students and an open question to people involved in teaching in the street were carried out.  Students’ perspective on the practice and the University’s potential to achieve social change and contributing to the start of the crisis were discussed. The teaching practice in the street is accepted and valued by the students and is considered very positive for the scientific training. At the same time, some participants in the discussion group expressed some interesting reservations about open dialectic confrontation regarding political and social issues in the classroom. Students emphasize University’s formal and informal networks as a communicative resource to help social change. In the discussion we reflect about the positioning of the students regarding the power of the university to initiate social change.