The experience of university extension in an undergraduate Gastronomy program: a report of experience

Abstract

University extension is an academic activity that consists of an educational, cultural, and scientific process that articulates teaching and research in an inseparable manner. In recent years, extension has become a mandatory component in the academic training of various undergraduate programs. In this context, the present study aimed to reflect on and evaluate the contribution of curriculum-integrated extension to education in Gastronomy. It is a report of experience based on the author’s participation, as an undergraduate student, in four extension projects. Through a descriptive and reflective analysis, it was found that the topics addressed were relevant to professional training, although the actions were mostly limited to the institutional environment and had little contact with the external community. Despite this limitation, curriculum-integrated extension enabled a broader perspective on food and culinary practices beyond strictly gastronomic lenses. The article also proposes pathways to strengthen the connection between the university and the community through extension.