Extracurricular activities in holistic education

Abstract This research employed a quantitative, cross-sectional method to analyze university students' perceptions regarding the contribution of extracurricular activities to their holistic development. The study population consisted of students who attended the “Convisión Empresarial 2025” international congress; a questionnaire was distributed via Microsoft Forms, yielding 114 responses, which were then subjected to descriptive and correlational analysis. The strongest correlation was observed between soft skills development and interaction with experts and peers (r = .833, p < .001), followed by the relationship between recognition and motivation and a global, multidisciplinary perspective (r = .828, p < .001). Likewise, very strong associations were found between interaction with experts and peers and a global, multidisciplinary perspective (r = .823, p < .001), as well as between interaction with experts and peers and recognition and motivation (r = .817, p < .001). The results lead to the conclusion that these benefits constitute a set of interrelated experiences contributing to holistic development. In particular, interaction with experts and peers boosts motivation and strengthens the formation of a global and multidisciplinary perspective. Therefore, fostering academic gathering spaces maximizes the educational impact of extracurricular activities in higher education. The findings support the study's objective by demonstrating that participation in academic extracurricular activities has a positive effect on students' holistic development. Keywords: Students, Extracurricular Activities, Holistic Development.