La universidad al servicio de la sociedad: Perspectivas sobre la proyección social humanista tomasina

Abstract

This study examines University Social Outreach at Universidad Santo Tomás in Colombia as a fundamental component of its educational mission. It seeks to explain how the institution positions itself as an active agent of social change beyond the classroom by engaging directly with local communities. The findings indicate that social outreach is not merely a collection of activities or isolated projects, but rather a comprehensive framework that integrates teaching, research, and social engagement. Using a participatory perspective, the study underscores the importance of sustained dialogue between the university and communities, fostering mutual learning and the collective construction of knowledge. A qualitative approach was employed, analyzing information from the Social Outreach unit’s institutional microsite and key university documents that define how social outreach is conceptualized within the institution. The results show that Universidad Santo Tomás has strengthened a model of social outreach consistent with its humanistic ethos, prioritizing human development, social justice, and the common good. The analysis further reveals that its programs are designed to transform social realities and reinforce community bonds through an ethical and solidarity-based rationale. In conclusion, social outreach emerges as a strategic mechanism through which the university fulfills its societal role: educating socially committed individuals, generating socially relevant knowledge, and actively contributing to solutions for the pressing challenges faced by communities.