The Role of the University in the Integration of International Border Territories

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to understand the social role played by the University in the international integration of border territories. The following questions guided the study: What are the relations of belonging built by the University's internal actors? What strategy can collaborate with the integration of the University in the border territory? The study focused on the case of the Universidade Federal da Integração Latino-americana (Unila), founded in 2010 with the purpose of promoting regional integration at an international level, and located in a triple border region between Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. Results portray three phases through which integration into the territory constituted itself: strangeness in the territory; identity construction; and belonging relationships, with special contribution from university outreach/extension.