Uniendo saber y acción: Extensión Universitaria y necesario protagonismo del docente

Introduction: Throughout history, university outreach has evolved, adapting to the social needs of each era. In the 21^st century, higher education faces complex challenges that require comprehensive responses. Methodology: The paper aims to highlight the importance of teacher reflection as an essential process for integrating teaching, research and outreach. For this purpose, a qualitative review of scientific and academic articles published in the last decade was carried out. Results: The analysis of these articles allowed us to identify strategies to strengthen teachers' protagonism and improve the quality of university teaching, applying the knowledge acquired in real contexts. Conclusions: Teacher reflection and leadership, supported by comprehensive and continuous training, are fundamental to connect substantive university processes with the needs of the community, favouring a more relevant and transformative education.