Learning and Service: A view from the graduates

Abstract

Introduction: Social demands require active and effective strategies such as the Learning plus Service methodology, which is a pedagogical practice that allows a real approach to the various contexts and the resolution of social problems.
Objective: To know the opinion of the graduates of the Faculty of Medicine of the Catholic University of the North between 2018-2020, regarding the Learning Plus Service methodology.
Methods: Qualitative, descriptive, and exploratory research through an intrinsic case study. Non-probabilistic sample for convenience and criteria, made up of 13 graduates of the Faculty of Medicine of the Catholic University of the North. 2 focus groups were held, after signing the informed consent. The analysis was carried out by data reduction, considering the exploration of results at three levels.
Results: At level 1, 684 meaning units were identified, grouped into 3 descriptive categories, and coded according to the study objectives: to reveal the meaning attributed to the Learning Plus Service methodology; to investigate the factors that influence its development; to discover the competencies developed through this methodology and to explore their contribution to job performance. At level 2, 2 meta-categories were formed: “Factors associated with the development of the Learning Plus Service methodology” and “Learning Plus Service and competency development”. At level 3, a qualitative domain was identified: “Student contribution to the methodology for competency development”.
Conclusions: Graduates value Learning Plus Service, highlighting the development of competencies such as social responsibility and respect for the dignity of people. This methodology facilitates the integration of theoretical knowledge with practical experiences, bringing students closer to reality and improving their job performance.
DeCS: METHODOLOGY AS A SUBJECT; LEARNING; KNOWLEDGE; WORK PERFORMANCE; QUALITATIVE RESEARCH.