Representaciones sociales sobre democracia que tienen los estudiantes de la Universidad Industrial de Santander (UIS) y la Universitaria de Investigación y Desarrollo (UDI).

Abstract

This work presents the results of a research whose objective was to identify the social representations on democracy that students of the Industrial University of Santander (UIS) and the University of Research and Development (UDI) have, which supports the relationship between the construction and content of social representations on democracy in university students that allows to know, from a social, family or academic influence, expressed fundamentally, in a participatory or passive attitude in the various forms, contexts or spaces made possible to make their interests and desires felt and to reflect if they are taken into account democratically in decision making in all situations that concern them as students and citizens. Here we consider the social representations of students about democracy and its relationship with the ideal of democracy, and with what they see as the democracy currently lived; as well as the social responsibility that universities and educational institutions and teachers have in the formation of young people for a participatory, active and democratic life. The importance of this study lies in the fact that social representations are social constructions in which individuals reveal their ways of thinking, feeling, and seeing life. Therefore, they allow an adequate approach to how students feel and see democracy in their different contexts. Fragments of the students' discourse were analyzed, which give an account of these productions of a symbolic and imaginary nature. Finally, some derivations of the results of the research that contributes to the educational field were proposed.