PhD . Rebeca Castellanos Gómez . Editorial .
Revista Scientific - Editorial - Registro n º: 295-14548 - pp . BA2016000002 - Vol . 4 , N º 14 - Noviembre-Enero 2019-2020 - pág . 10 / 21 ISSN : 2542-2987 - ISNI : 0000 0004 6045 0361 importance of the research processes and their mandatory academic offer . On the one hand , it gives research an institutional character within the substantive functions and conceives it as : “(…) a creative , systematic and systemic work , based on epistemological debates and environmental needs that enhance scientific knowledge and knowledge , ancestral and intercultural (…)” ( art . 4 ); in literal b ; on the other hand , it develops extensively the topic of Formative Research , and defines it in terms of “ a process of use and generation of knowledge characterized by the application of conventional research methods , innovation , analysis and validation between peers producing , generally , knowledge of relevance and local , national and / or international validity (…)” ( art . 39 ). This consideration in the RRA , entails the mandatory research training from undergraduate .
As can be seen , the issue of relevance is repetitive , now referred to the generation and application of knowledge . It is in this aspect that we want to mention , briefly , the experience of the Catholic University of Cuenca ( UCACUE ), which has embraced the Principles of quality “ 4 A ” of higher education of the United Nations Educational Organization , the Science and Culture ( UNESCO ) and has done an important job to guide its academic relevance according to the needs of the contexts and advances of science .
In this order and within the framework of a curricular evaluation process applied to its 45 undergraduate courses in its seven ( 07 ) Academic Units ( in all its headquarters and extensions ), UCACUE conducted 39 focus groups with institutions and companies ( 76 of the public sector and 64 private sector , for a total of 140 institutions ) in an unprecedented research in the university . The applied focus group technique allowed , among other things , to gather transcendental information for the adjustment of relevance ( in accordance with the principles of Affordability , Adaptability and Acceptability ) and the determination of research needs , both in the development of research skills in students , as in specific aspects to be investigated to solve problems of society
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