The Extension and Territory Area continued to develop programs together with historically marginalized communities in various spaces in Rosario and the region during 2025.
Among the initiatives that strengthen the University's social commitment are the call for university extension projects, the UNR School of Trades, and the University for Older Adults. This year, 63 initiatives from the University's twelve faculties and five secondary schools were approved in the call for extension projects with proposals for Educational Social Practices. The evaluation was carried out by internal and external peers from 23 national and provincial universities.
Along with project funding, a support program was implemented, including a schedule of meetings and workshops for training and exchange on topics such as communication, curriculum development strategies, budgeting, and systematization. Two meetings were also held to identify the needs and demands of the teams and to provide training and advice on budgeting and accountability.
School of Trades
Between the first and second semesters, 49 courses were offered at the School of Trades, with a massive enrollment, as has been the case year after year. One noteworthy aspect is the streamlined registration process, which included a three-day in-person pre-registration session with an interview component, allowing for better record-keeping and prioritization.
Furthermore, new courses were added: “Digital Communication for Entrepreneurs: with AI Tools,” “Hygiene and Safety,” “Introduction to Industrial Maintenance,” “Excel,” and “Barbering and Hairdressing Courses.” In the second semester, “Customer Service at Service Stations and Parking Lots” was incorporated in conjunction with the Chamber of Service Stations, along with “Handmade Bookbinding.”
The School of Trades grew through collaboration with various stakeholders and public institutions, such as the Social Economy Department of the Municipality of Rosario. The city's six districts offered between five and eleven courses in areas such as baking, sewing, sublimation printing, locksmithing, bicycle repair, PC repair, marketing, photography, and catering. In total, more than 2000 people received certification in training programs offered in partnership with the Municipality. Also noteworthy are the six new Cultural Trades courses offered in partnership with the Secretariat of Culture of the Municipality of Rosario.
In addition, new courses were developed through agreements with various municipalities in southern Santa Fe, bringing face-to-face training programs to the towns of Máximo Paz, Villa Constitución, Firmat, and San Lorenzo.
Furthermore, training programs were renewed in conjunction with the rural production sector. More than 50 young people received training in "Use and Maintenance of Livestock Mixer Equipment," "Dairy Farming Technician Skills," and "Corn Seed Processing at the Plant." Another collaboration was established with the "Otra Vuelta" Program, where students in the UNR's virtual high school program incorporated vocational courses into their curriculum.
University for Older Adults
During 2025, the academic proposal of the courses was consolidated with almost total representation of academic units and with a presence in different districts of the city, as well as in municipalities and communes of the central and southern region of Santa Fe.
Two initiatives that were very well received were “Wednesdays for Seniors at the ECU,” a cross-cutting program of meetings, talks, and lectures on social, academic, and cultural issues, which was declared of interest by the Chamber of Deputies of the Province of Santa Fe. Also noteworthy was “Cultural Logs,” a series of guided tours of different museums and cultural spaces, offering a dialogical and innovative approach that seeks, through various recordings, to recover and highlight local and historical memory.
In addition to these initiatives, the Support for Educational Social Practices stands out, in conjunction with the Academic and Learning Area. This includes the "Digital Mate Gatherings" with the University for Older Adults, where students and professors from the University Technical Program in Artificial Intelligence coordinated exchange workshops on the topic. Furthermore, support is provided for interdisciplinary experiences in the Clothing and Textile Design program, in collaboration with the University Technical Program in Artificial Intelligence and social economy entrepreneurs.
Meanwhile, at Espacio Esmeralda (Esmeralda 2541), the regular courses Introduction to Clothing Design I and Introduction to Clothing Design II, belonging to the School of Professional Training, were held. An interesting aspect of this program is the possibility of these courses being integrated gradually into broader educational pathways (Diploma in Pattern Making and Construction Techniques, Technical Degree, and Bachelor's Degree in Clothing and Textile Design from the Faculty of Humanities and Arts at the National University of Rosario). In fact, several students who began their studies in the Popular University Program completed the Diploma and are now pursuing the Technical Degree and Bachelor's Degree at the Faculty.
Regarding the University Internship Center, it experienced remarkable quantitative growth, doubling the number of students who completed internships (from 406 in 2024 to 831 in 2025). A new digital platform was also implemented to streamline student registration for the various opportunities offered by both public agencies and private sector companies. This new system significantly improved the process, making it more efficient.
Journalist: Victoria Arrabal/Photographer: Camila Casero