College Education as a Generating Fact of Social Innovation: A Study of the Role of Educational Institutions

Abstract

The aim of this article is to analyze how the actions and practices of Social Innovation carried out by university education institutions in western Paraná, Brazil, contribute to the promote Social Innovation in their locations. The applied method used documental research, semi-structured interviews carried out with managers, from which a Content Analysis of a total of 75 pages of transcription and 2,534 pages of documents was carried out. Social Innovation is the result of transforming ideas translated into actions, practices, projects and policies such as: changes in school curricula, use of technologies and active methodologies in University, carrying out innovative research and extension projects. In this strategic perspective, it is concluded that the directors present an integrated vision, resulting from the collective experience, from a culture that is based on the experience of institutional managers and on the potential of innovation as sedimenters of Social Innovation. This article contributes to the theory by identifying practices that can effectively be considered a Social Innovation - innovative actions with social benefit- contributing to a better understanding of the concept. As a practical contribution, the actions and practices carried out by the Universities aimed at teaching, research and extension that represented changes in the locality are highlighted.