Pedagogical practice contribution in the rural communities of the municipality of Restrepo, Meta (Colombia)

Abstract

Higher education institutions (HEI) are called on to determine their students and graduates’ social action regarding the relevance of the programmes being offered. This study’s objective was to ascertain Universidad de Los Llanos’ “BSc Agricultural Production” programme students’ educational, productive and community-based contributions to rural communities in the municipality of Restrepo, 2012-2014, regarding food safety- and environmental education-orientated training; such students were studying community education and/or involved in extension courses and teaching practice. A qualitative research route was chosen, linking elements of complementarity, techniques such as participant observation, interaction with the population being studied, designing and using characterisation sheets, in-depth interviews, focus groups and constructing a DOFA matrix for reflective analysis of the data. The research results ratified some of the BSc Agricultural Production programme’s strengths; future teachers’ pedagogical and humanistic training is useful for non-formal education training and contributing towards improving the participating communities’ quality of life (QoL) as they become involved in clean food production, conservation scenarios for natural ecosystems and strengthening development-based community ties. The study concluded that when pedagogical practice became contextualised then solutions became consolidated for the diverse rural population being served. This was born out by home vegetable gardens being technically and sustainably set up, adapting/improving ecological trails for promoting environmental management, introducing projects aimed at sustainable poultry production, rabbit breeding, producing organic fertilisers, agro industrialisation of products and the introduction per se of food security.