Territory Mapping as a Citizen Education Tool: A Community Extension Approach from SENAI CIMATEC University

Resumo

In 2018, the Ministry of Education implemented Resolution No. 7, which establishes guidelines for extension in Higher Education and makes it a part of the curriculum. This new model seeks to strengthen the social commitment of Higher Education Institutions by promoting social participation. At SENAI CIMATEC University, university extension was restructured with the creation of the Community Extension Center (NEC) in 2024. The NEC works to develop extension programs that incorporate the principles of Popular Education and Citizen Education, promoting social development and integrating teaching and research. To identify community needs, the NEC adopted the Territory Mapping tool, in which students conduct a sociocultural assessment of the location, understanding its physical, political, and cultural dimensions. The territory mapping was conducted by Mechanical Engineering and Data Science and Artificial Intelligence students between March and July 2025. This work aimed to report on the experience of the NEC team and the students, addressing the main stages of the mapping, student feedback, and the identification of potential projects. The first part of the mapping investigated basic infrastructure and environmental and cultural aspects. The second part addressed community participation, economic issues, security, and cultural manifestations. The most frequently identified cultural manifestations were music, dance, sports, graffiti, and crafts. Through their experience reports, the students demonstrated their involvement and knowledge of local realities. Territory mapping proved to be an effective tool for civic education, allowing students to connect with the realities of their communities and awakening the desire to develop relevant extension projects. The mapping results, including the identification of infrastructure, environmental risks, and cultural manifestations, will serve as a basis for future extension projects, strengthening the relationship between teaching, research, and extension, in line with the objectives of SENAI CIMATEC University.