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Access to Justice as an Engine of an Innovative Digital Ecosystem
- Lane Alves
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Author:
Lane Alves - PhD student in Management at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul
Researcher at the GESEG Research Group
Introduction
The right of access to justice, the unit of analysis of my master’s research, transcends the mere possibility of resorting to the Judiciary: it also encompasses education, the prevention of violence, the promotion of human rights, and the construction of more equitable and prosperous societies. The theoretical waves of access to justice (1) have expanded this concept, opening space for social, technological, and community dimensions.
In Brazil, the mandatory curricular integration of university outreach programs (2) offers universities the opportunity to transform education in Law and related fields into spaces of social innovation. Universities that embrace this commitment in an innovative and collaborative manner become strategic actors in strengthening democracy, aligning their practices with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Thus, when university outreach activities are articulated through collaborative networks and the paradigm of diversity, they can evolve into an innovation ecosystem for access to justice - connecting civil society, justice institutions, governments, companies, students, and vulnerable communities in genuine processes of social transformation.
The Untapped Potential of University Outreach Networks in Higher Education
University outreach projects often operate in isolation, driven by the initiatives of individual faculty members or small groups of students.
This fragmentation reduces their potential for social impact and renders invisible practices that could otherwise be scaled nationally and internationally.
However, by forming outreach networks, universities can leverage their resources and expertise cooperatively. This network-oriented logic enhances their capacity to provide free legal assistance to vulnerable groups, promote human rights education, develop innovative methodologies for violence prevention, and implement integrated socio-environmental practices.
Just as diverse teams generate creative solutions, outreach networks characterized by cultural, ethnic-racial, and disciplinary diversity prevent stagnation and foster expansion, promoting intersectional perspectives that identify neglected needs and create innovative and more effective responses.
Access to Justice, Reputation, and Social Responsibility
Universities that take a leading role in promoting access to justice - one of the key avenues for generating social impact - reinforce their ethical commitment and institutional reputation. By aligning themselves with the global agendas of the 2030 Agenda and the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles, they become strategic partners for governments, businesses, and civil society organizations.
Strengthening an inclusive and innovative university outreach culture contributes to attracting investments, expanding the university’s social legitimacy, and generating scalable solutions to major contemporary challenges.
The Cosmos Model
Inspired by these needs, the initiative Cosmos: Network for Access to Justice and University Outreach - currently under development - emerges as an example of a digital network for access to justice and university outreach. It is a social platform that connects society to university outreach projects developed by Brazilian universities, democratizing access to information, articulating collective actions, and fostering innovation in human rights.
The Cosmos model seeks to overcome historical barriers such as the difficulty of locating university outreach projects, institutional fragmentation, lack of public investment, and low student engagement. Through technology and a network-based approach, the platform strengthens collaborative practices aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with potential for intersectoral and international expansion.
Practical Tools for University Managers and University Outreach Leaders
To transform university outreach into a vector for innovation in access to justice, administrators can adopt the following practical strategies:
Inclusion of Diversities: Incorporate intersectional perspectives into university outreach projects, valuing gender, race, ethnicity, social class, territory, and neurodivergence.
Collaborative Networks: Create or strengthen spaces for cooperation among universities, businesses, civil society, and public institutions, expanding the scale of actions and avoiding duplication of efforts.
Flexible and Sustainable Policies : Institutionalize incentive policies for university outreach activities as criteria for faculty advancement and student training, ensuring sustainability and academic recognition.
Capacity Building and Continuing Education: Offer training in participatory methodologies, social innovation, and network management for faculty, staff, and students engaged in university outreach projects.
Conclusion
By integrating university outreach into their social innovation strategies, Brazilian - and global - universities can transform access to justice into a genuine impact ecosystem. This transformation requires the active participation of students, faculty, and communities, as well as new forms of governance, financing, and network articulation.
Just as diversity and inclusion strengthen entrepreneurial universities in the global landscape - as highlighted by studies from Harvard University and reports from the International Labour Organization - an inclusive and collaborative approach to university outreach can reposition Brazilian universities as leaders in sustainability, social justice, and innovation for human development, contributing to a global network of sustainable innovation.
References
(1) Cappelletti M. and Garth B., Access to Justice, Sergio Antonio Fabris Editor, Porto Alegre, 1988, p. 7 (translated by E. G. Northfleet).
(2) National Council of Education, CNE/CES Resolution No. 7 of 18 December 2018.
Economides K., “Reading the Waves of the ‘Access to Justice Movement’: Epistemology versus Methodology?”, in Pandolfi D. et al. (eds.), Citizenship, Justice and Violence, Fundação Getúlio Vargas, Rio de Janeiro, 1999, p. 73.
Santos E. A. dos, Teoria da mudança aplicada ao direito de acesso à justiça: Desafios e possibilidades de uma rede extensionista on-line focada em acesso à justiça penal no Rio Grande do Sul, Master’s thesis, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, 2024.
Available at: https://tede2.pucrs.br/tede2/handle/tede/11438
Biography of the Guest Expert
Lane Alves is a PhD student in Management at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), with a CAPES scholarship.Lane holds a Master’s degree in Criminal Sciences from PUCRS and a Bachelor’s degree in Law from the Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel). Lane is also Researcher at the GESEG Research Group: Integrated Management of Public Security with a focus on Literature, Art, and Diversities, coordinated by Prof. Dr. Clarice Beatriz da Costa Söhngen, and at the Research Group on Sustainability and Impact Business, coordinated by Prof. Dr. Maira de Cassia Petrini.