University Engagement as a path to Social Innovation: analysis from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

ABSTRACT

Social innovations aim to respond to social needs and problems and rely on the participation of agents in building solutions. Universities play active roles in the context of these innovations. In this context, the role of the university in promoting social innovations is investigated based on the university engagement at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. A survey was carried out with the coordinators of these actions. It was found that the mapped actions contribute to solutions for the community involved in the project and its development is marked by transdisciplinarity and support for the empowerment and autonomy of social actors, especially via capacity building; which confirms the idea that university engagement is capable of supporting the generation of social innovations. However, the research results also reveal that the university offers solutions more intensely than it builds them with the community involved; revealing an offerist bias.

KEYWORDS:
Social innovations; University-society; Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul