Community intervention in higher education of environmental health Intervencion comunitaria en la educación superior de salud ambiental Interven o comunitária no ensino superior de saúde ambiental

Currently, in the Bologna context, university teaching methods focus on the student and on a learning experience based on practical methods. Under the guidance of teachers, students in the second year of the first Environmental Health Course at the Polytechnic Institute of Beja have designed and developed the following nine community intervention projects relating to environmental health: dangerous products (mercury); habitability and geriatrics; health education and the environment; drinking water; information and communication in environmental health; efficient use of resources in public buildings; child development in outdoor spaces; and allergenic factors in housing. This pedagogical action takes place over three semesters, corresponding to the three distinct phases: design, implementation and evaluation / dissemination. To ensure the viability of the projects, each group of three students has established partnerships with various entities, such as city and parish councils, hospitals, schools, consumer cooperatives, companies dealing with hazardous waste, the Youth Institute and other commercial enterprises. Although it has not been possible to evaluate the whole project, preliminary results suggest that the planned activities have been very successful, with health benefits for the people involved, through environmental improvements or an increase in empowerment. It was also possible to achieve economic gains and contribute to the conservation of the environment. The students were able to gain skills and knowledge in a teaching model characterized by the absence of lectures in which students, assisted by teachers, take decisions and independent action, simulating a real context of professional practice. This experience suggests that, by utilizing the Bologna method, the polytechnic institutions may improve their real contribution to the health of communities. Actualmente y en el marco del Plan de Bolonia, las actividades docentes universitarias están centradas en el alumno y el aprendizaje basado en métodos prácticos. Bajo la preceptiva dirección de los profesores, los estudiantes del Curso de Salud Ambiental en el Instituto Politécnico de Beja, han dise ado y puesto en práctica nueve proyectos de intervención comunitaria en salud ambiental en productos peligrosos (mercurio), habitabilidad y geriatría, educación para la salud y medio ambiente, agua potable, información y comunicación en salud ambiental, uso eficiente de los recursos en los edificios públicos, desarrollo del ni o en los espacios al aire libre y factores alergénicos en las viviendas. E