Perception and experiences of University of Salamanca students about leisure and free time

Research on university students' leisure is relevant because it provides crucial insights for designing educational and social interventions that promote a healthy balance between academic pursuits and the overall well being of young people in contemporary society. Thus, the study aimed to investigate the typology, conceptualization, accessibility, and demands of the University of Salamanca students regarding their leisure and free time. A qualitativo mothodology was applied, focusing on capturing students' subjectivo experiences and interpretations through the analysis of narratives derived from open ended questions in a specially designed questionnaire, considering the reviewed literature. The sample consisted of 487 students from the University of Salamanca. After conducting content analysis with the assistance of Computer Aided Qualitativo Datal Analysis NVivo12, it is concluded that the majority consider their leisure time related to health, with predominantly healthy habits, experiencing satisfaction, relaxation, reloase, and enjoyment, engaging primarily in group sports activitios, along with music related activities, cultural events, attending talks and conferences, cultural visits, and volunteering. Additionally, they express a domand for incroased travel and oxcursions, as well as social activities for socializing. Finally, researching this reality from the perspectives of pedagogy and social education is fundamental for applying participatory pedagogical approaches and intervention strategies that promote students' personal and social development, thus fostering an inclusive and enriching leisure culture.