A brief profile of extension activities in Unesp’s faculties, Araraquara campus: focusing on technology and knowledge transfer

Abstract

The article reports the results of a research that sought to identify the potential of four faculties at the Araraquara campus of UNESP in regard to extension activities. The focus was in technology and knowledge transfer to external partners, as a factor stimulating innovation. As a first step, in a conceptual approach, a typology of university extension activities was developed, placing the actions directed to technology and knowledge transfer in an appropriate context. Next, the article analyses the results of the research, based on qualitative methodology. The data were collected from secondary sources, available in the projects’ files at each faculty, and from primary data, obtained through semi-structured interviews with faculty directors, project coordinators, technical and administrative personnel, and students leading junior enterprises. The results reveal that, among the five categories of extension activities initially identified, one is little adopted by the faculties; it was revealed that contacts with external partners are still limited in scope, have short duration, and are informal and non-institutionalized. Another instigating fact shown is the low level of contacts and articulation among the faculties themselves, regarding joint projects. Among the main reasons for the low performance regarding external partners and interaction among faculties, the following should be mentioned: a) absence of internal mechanisms, capable of facilitating and fomenting interaction and cooperation; b) an organizational culture, characterized by resistance in partnership building, especially with business; and c) the restrictions on professors’ work contracts, imposing difficulties to the development of projects with external partners. The preliminary, limited and exploratory character of the research prevent us from presenting conclusive statements. What became clear was the necessity to deepen the investigation, especially in regard to the perspective of external institutions, the effective or potential partners of UNESP’s faculties.