Abstract

DOUGNAC., Paulette  and  FLORES., Matías G.. Articulação e extensão em tempos de crise. O caso da Universidade do Chile no contexto da explosão social. InterCambios [online]. 2021, vol.8, n.2, pp.2-15.  Epub Dec 01, 2021. ISSN 2301-0118.  https://doi.org/10.29156/inter.8.2.2.

Since October 2019, Chile faced a massive popular uprising that has put the whole economic model into question. Massive pacific demonstrations were organized to express discontent, as well as violent protests paralyzed the country and destroyed shops, traffic lights, buses and metro stations. Demonstrations were responded with brutal repression from the police, which was accused of human rights violations by different international organizations.

In order to respond to social discontent, a decision was made to conduct a national referendum in order to determine whether a new Constitution for Chile was to be written. In this context, universities became a space not only to discuss and propose ideas to overcome the crisis, but also, they assumed an active role in the conflict itself through varied initiatives undertaken by academics, staff and students.

This paper analyses a series of activities developed by the University of Chile during the three months following the start of the uprising, and how they constitute ways of public engagement through research, teaching, lifelong learning, culture and public policy. The discussion addresses the valorization and appraisal of these activities, as well as the implications of considering the concept of bidirectionality as a condition of public engagement, particularly in a context of crisis.

Keywords : public engagement; community engagement; university engagement; social uprising.

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