In search of the contemporary definition of “academic leagues” based on the health sciences’ experience

Abstract

This study sought a contemporary definition of ‘academic leagues’, based on the experience of 8 ALs in 2 public universities that have campuses in the countryside of the State of Ceará, Brazil. The ALs were equally divided between the undergraduate courses in Nursing and Medicine. Data collection took place in documents, interviews, and field observation and, subsequently, the data obtained underwent content analysis. On the one hand, the risks of adhering to clinical practices and corporate specialism have been shown; on the other hand, student protagonism and the interactions between university teaching, research, and outreach have been as well. The suggested definition of ALs is that they: a) correspond to student groups configured as a regular and longitudinal university outreach program; b) are carried out through direct and indirect professor oversight, relying on intellectual and practical support from the university and the health service network; and c) are oriented towards professional learning and growth around a specific theme provided for in the Brazilian National Curriculum Guidelines for the respective courses.