TRAINING AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION OF YOUNG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN THE REGION OF LOS LAGOS, CHILE

Abstract

Among the tasks that universities must assume is achieving educational processes that contribute to forming citizens with democratic values linked to the communities and their environment. This study investigates citizen participation among young university students in the Los Lagos Region, Chile. The participation behavior questionnaire (Vergara-Lope and Hevia de la Jara 2012) was applied to a convenience sample of 208 students using a quantitative approach. The results show high overall levels of participation, especially in dimensions such as associative-opinionated and civic, but low participation in partisan activities. No significant differences were found between universities, except in the electoral dimension, where Universidad San Sebastián showed lower participation. These findings underscore the importance of strengthening civic education in higher education, which is crucial for democratic development and promoting a more robust democratic commitment among young people.