Natural laboratories a living space for the integral training of students of the Intercultural Community University, URACCAN

Abstract

This research intended to diagnosticate the current state of URACCAN's natural laboratories as living spaces where knowledge and practices are built and recreated in harmony with mother earth, contributing to the revitalization of the identity and culture of the peoples, through innovation, entrepreneurship, production and marketing, based on the guidelines, principles and institutional values for the wellbeing. These labs are located on the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua, specifically in the municipalities of Waspam, Siuna, Waslala and Nueva Guinea. The methodology is based on documentary analysis techniques, participant observation, interviews with a participatory approach and prioritization matrix (SWOT). Likewise, we carried out participative workshops for discussion and analysis with the authorities of the campus, directors of areas, academic secretaries, coordinators of areas, responsible of natural laboratories and field workers. The results show a biophysics description of each natural lab, and it also determine the current use, strengths, opportunities, weaknesses and threats, that allows to make the right strategic decisions and thus, improve in the future the performance in which the students, teachers, researchers, leaders and community create and recreate knowledge and practices.