Teaching of University Cultural Heritage through combined workshops at the Technological University of Havana

Abstract

The university community often lacks knowledge of its historical memory, traditions, and heritage assets, which limits interest in University Cultural Heritage (UCH). This article describes an experience of new creative academic formats aimed at minimizing this problem through more flexible and enriched instruction. The objective was to articulate workshops from university extension programs into the engineering curriculum to increase knowledge about UCH among students at the Technological University of Havana, CUJAE. The workshops on Visual Arts, Photographic Appreciation, and Appreciation of University Cultural Heritage were articulated, introducing challenges that mobilized students' usual competencies toward new perspectives. The results showed an enhancement of students' cultural development and a deeper understanding of their professional environment in a contemporary, complex, and dynamic context. As conclusions, the experience highlights a notable increase in student interest through the combination of workshops, the possibility of showing diverse images of the university from a personal perspective away from traditional viewpoints through changes in focus, spaces, and new narratives, and a greater understanding of UCH values and its previously unknown aspects. Participation in the photography competition raised students' motivation, expectations, and commitment to continuous improvement through face-to-face and virtual reviews, making this a pedagogical experience they made their own