Students' perception of university extension: building competencies for health education

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5212/Rev.Conexao.v22.27039.043

Abstract

University extension brings students closer to social reality by integrating teaching, research and community. This study aimed to unveil undergraduate students' perceptions of extension activities in health education and to identify the development of competencies within the Health Education in Primary Care Project (PESAB) of Centro Universitário da Vitória de Santo Antão (UNIVISA). This is a descriptive study with a qualitative approach, conducted with six extension students through semi-structured interviews submitted to Bardin's content analysis. Three categories emerged: development of competencies for health education; influence of extension activities on academic training; and contributions of extension actions to the community. Participation in the project favored the articulation between theory and practice, the development of conceptual, procedural and attitudinal competencies, and closer contact with the Brazilian Unified Health System. University extension is fundamental to health training and demands greater institutional support.

Author Biographies

  • Éverton Barbosa de Lira

    Enfermeiro na Fundação de Hematologia e Hemoterapia de Pernambuco (HEMOPE) e na Prefeitura Municipal de João Pessoa, PB, Brasil. Aluno de Mestrado na Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, PB, Brasil.

  • Rayara Medeiros Duarte Luz, Federal University of Pernambuco

    Professora no Centro Universitário da Vitória de Santo Antão (UNIVISA), PE, Brasil. Enfermeira na Secretaria Municipal de Saúde de Jaboatão dos Guararapes, Recife, PE, Brasil. Aluna de Doutorado na Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, PB, Brasil.

Published

2026-10-21