Abstract:

The main purpose of education consist on enhancing human capabilities by empowering young citizens with the necessary tools to improve life conditions between their communities. Thus, education impact is reflected beyond the educative institution or the educational acts developed at the classroom.

Hence, educational institutions must offer an appropriate educational environment in which students may reinforce its human, social and cultural capital. This is, an adequate habitus on both institutional equipment and the establishment of democratic relationships with each actor of the educational community.

It is only though the close knowledge of student's experiences that education may be constituted as a vehicle of inclusion and social justice, on a broader sense of what the social function of university education should be.

This poster shows the actions designed by La Salle University at Bogotá, Colombia, on response to the results of the "Longitudinal Study of University Life, 2015-2020, La Salle University, Stage I", which establishes links between the motivations, daily activities and behavior of students in relation to their university experiences.

Such results show students difficulties on aspects such as the existence of a communication lack between the educational institution and their students, a high desertion rate on freshman students, a harsh adaptation to the city dynamics, inappropriate vertical relations between students and teachers and staff, a difficult time planning to fulfill academic, personal and familiar goals, scarce socialization and recreation activities, and an evident negative impact on economical resources availability due to the high tuitions of students.

Actions have focused in four main aspects: arrival to university life, mentoring companion system, university life and economic grants.

Keywords:

University Life, Education Management, Habitus.