Beyond the Classroom: Socio-Emotional Skills, an Experience from the University Scope

Abstract

Within the framework of the actions of the UNAN-Managua  to contribute to the student well-being of  boys and girls who are pursuing a professional career,  and whose common characteristic is that they come  from all over the national territory, with a significant  majority of female students (+60%), in addition that  it comes from public education centers up to 70%;  The practical experience in Socioemotional Skills was  developed from a group format, between the first  and second semesters of the year 2021. Male and  female students from different faculties participated,  responding to an open call that was supported by the  Vice President for Student Affairs VRAE and the Faculty  of Business Administration that facilitated the spaces  to develop each of the sessions permanently. 

The purpose was to favor a space for the exploration,  experience and learning of skills that would improve  the understanding of the personal self in relation to  others and others in an educational, socializing and  favorable environment of positive actions, in such a  way that the experience would contribute to improve  their permanence and academic life at the university. 

This practical experience developed has its antecedent  in the results of the research carried out in the COVID  19 context in the year 2020 and published in Nicaragua  Index, in which the main coping and resilience strategies  used by the student body are summarized, one of the  which was the avoidance as a passive mechanism  leading to the probability of getting involved in risk  situations such as isolation or significant effects on  physical and mental health, highlighting the need for  a closer and socio-emotional accompaniment. The  results show an unprecedented experience, based on  evidence with the possibility of replication.