Collaborative Networks Between Colombian Universities and Population at Risk of Social Exclusion: The Sergio Arboleda University Experience

Abstract

Higher Education Institutions have been established themselves as centers of social development, education, and progress for the countries in Latin America. The Colombian case is not an exception, and there are many initiatives that have been started from the various universities in the country in order to develop direct collaborative strategies that promote the development of people at risk of social exclusion.

This study presents an exploratory literature review concerning this type of phenomenon that is taking place today in many Colombian Higher Education Institutions. This first part of the document introduces a theoretical background over some of the methodologies of collaborative work and corporate social responsibility initiatives that are being implemented from different research groups at Sergio Arboleda University, in order to develop collaborative bounds and networks with the most disadvantaged population of some neighborhoods in the city of Bogota, Colombia. Specifically herein is described the case of the support provided by a group of students and professors deployed in the Usme neighborhood community in the south of Bogota to help them to run and manage sustainably a community store operated by these neighbors, lasting the project more than 2 years and having some interesting outputs from this experience that are highlighted in the conclusions of the document.