UNIVERSITY EXTENSION AS AN ELEMENT OF REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT: REPORT ON THE EXPERIENCE OF THE SI INSPIRA PROJECT

Abstract

This article aims to report on the experience of the SI Inspira extension project, which seeks to integrate teaching, research, and extension with a focus on the local development of the Seridó Potiguar region. The initiative adopts an innovative approach, grounded in student protagonism, interdisciplinarity, and co-creation with society. Using bibliographic research and document analysis as methods, the study aims to understand and systematize the practices and outcomes achieved by the project. Among the main advancements, the active engagement of students and the external community, including companies and public institutions, stands out. Students are directly involved in the identification and implementation of solutions for regional demands, while external partners provide technical and institutional support. The results demonstrate an increase in faculty participation in teaching, research, and extension activities, reflected in the growth of supervised final course projects, book publications, and initiatives developed in collaboration with the external community. Student involvement has generated a multiplicative effect, amplified by social media and the spontaneous dissemination of activities. The article concludes by proposing new avenues of investigation, such as evaluating the impact of the project on student training and the regional socioeconomic dynamics. Additionally, it recommends expanding inter-institutional partnerships and deepening co-creation practices as strategies to consolidate and expand the positive impacts of the project in the region.