Universidad y difusión cultural

Abstract

The university's responsibility for cultural development and dissemination has of late been a frequent issue for discussion within the university. In light of the well-known discrepancies between goals and results in this area, the suggestion—apparently serious—has been that the low visibility and impact of university extension is related to fossilization of the universities. It has been suggested that they operate in a social context that lags behind today's society; that they do not debate on or participate in the society which they serve. Others maintain that their mistake is to have paid too much attention to their social environment, attempting to satisfy "just-in-time" specifications in an unflagging competition to capture the interest and loyalty of the community. In this case, the error is a result of the unspoken goal of extension; to build a reputation by attracting students with high grades, and to stay ahead in a competitive self-funding system; both far removed from the declared goal of promoting culture. We suggest that there is a third option, related to competent, appropriate administration of a complex communications system inherent in the act of promoting culture.