(IUS America) – The UPS university presented a continuing education course which is part of the “la Red América Social Salesiana (RASS)” (Social Salesian American Network). The network is made up of Universidad Catolica Silva Henriquez from Chile, Universidad Salesiana from Argentina and Universidad Politecnica Salesiana (UPS) from Ecuador. The aim of the program is to contribute to the reduction of social inequalities in our continent and strengthen the social capital of Salesian works with tools, strategies and joint research.
University representatives that are part of the network of Salesian Institutions of Higher Education – IUS – presented the proposals and methodologies for the social, leadership, political and management issues that will be taught during this training process. Father Galvarino Jofre, president Universidad Católica Silva Henríquez of Chile, stated that “this course will allow us to understand the social phenomena of each country and provide concrete solutions.” The course they will be in charge of is “Education, inclusion from human rights”.
Father Héctor Rausch, president of Universidad Salesiana of Argentina, stressed the commitment to networking. “This joint reflection on the work that is carried out in Salesian works must narrow the boundaries between what we are and what we know,” he said. The course they will develop is “Public Policies for Children”.
Universidad Politécnica Salesiana of Ecuador president Juan Cárdenas pointed out that it seeks to contribute to the reduction of social inequalities and strengthening of social capital and that it is a challenge to contribute to the construction of “science with awareness.” The course that UPS will offer is “Participatory Management and Institutional Projection” and its coordinator is professor Leonela Cucurella.
A talk on youth ministry was held with Fr. Miguel Ángel García, counselor for the Salesian Youth Ministry deparment ; Father Marcelo Farfán, world coordinator of the IUS and Father Rafael Bejarano, representative of social works of Youth Ministry.
García spoke about the importance of the work between academia and society for the development of human dignity at the local, national and international level. “We need research, interdisciplinary methodology, search for social ties and relevance to find solutions through knowledge for equal opportunities.”
Social capital is the ability to form networks, create trust, generate agreements and affections. Universities must contribute to social capital from critical thinking, well-founded reflections, research results and dissemination of knowledge to build common practices.
– Fr. Marcelo Farfán
Father Bejarano spoke of the innovation of Salesian works understood as the commitment to integral human development. “Our Salesian works must be significant and fruitful from an educational dimension with an impact on society, with economic viability without forgetting environmental sustainability and social equity.
The Salesian social works and services network, located in 20 countries, cares for boys, girls, adolescents and young people at high risk of social exclusion, child workers, people from former armed groups, former prisoners, migrants, among others,
Posted by: Miguel Leonardo Reino