University extension and the social inclusion of public high school students

University extension in the educational process allows for the preparation of the praxis and scientific knowledge through actions in the community, generating a systematic process of knowledge exchange. This study evaluated the educational interventions of private higher education in public high school applied to the areas of sciences and prevention in health, conducted from February 2005 to November 2008. The intervention trained 20 high school students, and held the Youth Health Day, attended by 362 students from Salvador, Brazil. Anonymous questionnaires containing questions about the subject's activities were completed before and after each seminar and workshop. The importance of the intervention of private higher education in the training of public high school students was noted. Private higher education can participate in social inclusion, qualifying individuals to join the professional training process in a manner more attentive to the social dynamics. The challenge for higher education in the health field remains reconceptualizing its active role in health education and prevention, with the effective participation of academics, scientists, and educators.