Aproximación al envejecimiento activo y saludable a través de las prácticas de trabajo social con metodología de aprendizaje servicio

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5209/cuts.93045
Keywords: active learning, pedagogical practice, ageing population, older people, teaching methodology

Abstract

The concept of ageing has evolved throughout history. The first references were to biological, health and/or employment-related approaches. Subsequently, the concept has been broadened to include comprehensive, multidimensional and cross-cutting approaches, such as Active Ageing (WHO, 2002) and Healthy Ageing (WHO, 2020).

The purpose of this paper is to make visible the role of the university in the promotion of active and healthy ageing. The university, within the framework of its social responsibility, can play an important role in the optimisation of ageing, through its research, teaching and outreach functions. Service-learning (ApS) is an ideal methodology to enable the university to actively participate in its environment while strengthening meaningful learning.

A study is presented on the development of projects aimed at improving the quality of life of the elderly in the curricular practices of the degree in Social Work at the University of La Rioja. A systematic review has been carried out of 445 posters that form part of the activity reports of the internships of ten academic years (2014/2015-2023/2024). Based on these, the projects were classified according to the type of service and activity carried out. We also analysed the information provided by the students with regard to their assessment of their experience in terms of learning and service. The conclusions of the study include the frequency of curricular internships with the elderly in relation to the total number of internships, as well as initiatives that promote Active Ageing and those that focus on care for the elderly in situations of vulnerability.

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Author Biographies

Ana Belén Cuesta Ruiz-Clavijo, Universidad de La Rioja

PhD in Law and Social Work, University of La Rioja. Diploma in Social Work and Degree in Labor Sciences from the University of La Rioja. The doctoral thesis received the Belzunegui Award from the Society of Gerontology of Navarra in 2023.
Professor of the Degree in Social Work at the University of La Rioja (2016-present). Civil servant of the Government of La Rioja, category social worker, (1999-2016).
Among her lines of research focus on aging, social work, disability, elderly and care.
She is a researcher of the UNESCO Chair, Democratic citizenship and cultural freedom of the University of La Rioja. in conferences and seminars, trainer and author of publications.

Esther Raya Diez, Universidad de La Rioja

Graduate in Political Science and Sociology from the Complutense University of Madrid, Master's Degree in Social Services Management, Diploma in Social Work and PhD in Political Sociology from the University of the Basque Country. In 1994 she was awarded the Sustatu research prize by the Social Welfare Department of the Basque Government and in 2001 she received the Basque Social Reality Award from the Presidency.
She has worked as a social projects technician in public administration and third sector entities. Since 2002 she has developed her teaching and research work. She is currently a University Professor in the area of Social Work and Social Services at the University of La Rioja.
Researcher of the UNESCO Chair of Democratic Citizenship and Cultural Freedom at the University of La Rioja. Her lines of research include the Human Rights Approach in Social Work; research methodology and social intervention; social exclusion. She has more than a hundred publications and has presented lectures at national and international conferences.

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Published
2025-02-10
How to Cite
Cuesta Ruiz-Clavijo A. B. y Raya Diez E. (2025). Aproximación al envejecimiento activo y saludable a través de las prácticas de trabajo social con metodología de aprendizaje servicio. Cuadernos de Trabajo Social, 38(1), 159-170. https://doi.org/10.5209/cuts.93045
Issue
Vol. 38 No. 1 (2025)
Section
Articles

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