Service-Learning Capacity Enhancement in Hong Kong Higher Education


Book Description

This book provides an in-depth, multi-faceted look into capacity building for service-learning, using the case of the higher education landscape in Hong Kong. Service-learning has been proven to be an effective pedagogy for the holistic development of students, as well as promotion of their well-being. It also attempts to promote the well-being of the service recipients and the community. While service-learning is becoming increasingly popular in many higher educational institutions around the world, the learning gains that can be attained from service-learning are only as good as the learning experience allows, and poorly-developed or motivated service-learning may potentially do adverse harm to students and the community. This book reinforces the imperative to enhance the capacity of the institution, teachers, students and community partners by exploring a diverse range of methods for achieving capacity building among different stakeholders. Examples of the methods explored include formal course-based professional development, scale development, action research, and communities of practice. Furthermore, the book includes a series of detailed, qualitative case studies that are aimed at embodying good practice, unpacking “what matters” from service-learning. Aa a useful resource for scholars and educators who are passionate about holistic youth leadership development, this book is also relevant to researchers in the intersection between well-being and higher education.




Applications of Service Learning in Higher Education


Book Description

In higher education, a pressing issue has emerged—how to authentically connect academic pursuits with real-world challenges. The last decade has witnessed an escalating call for heightened interaction between universities and the "real world". Demands have grown for higher education institutions to instill democratic citizenship and address students' moral development. In response to this rise in demand, there has been a notable shift toward emphasizing service learning within academia. As educators grapple with the imperative to seamlessly integrate theory and practice, Applications of Service Learning in Higher Education steps into the forefront, delving into the myriad applications of service learning to effectively address this critical issue. Applications of Service Learning in Higher Education examines the complexities surrounding service learning in higher education. At its core, the book aims to showcase concrete examples of successful service learning applications, acting as a catalyst for the integration of this transformative pedagogy into the academic fabric. Beyond the surface, the book delves into the intricate planning, execution, and assessment stages of service learning projects, whether manifested within local communities or on an international scale. It seeks to fill notable knowledge gaps, particularly in less-explored regions like Latin America and the Caribbean and underscores the significance of multidisciplinary experiences. As the narrative unfolds, the book addresses the symbiotic relationship between service learning and students' programs of study, transforming communities into vibrant classrooms where learning transcends traditional boundaries.




Service-Learning


Book Description

This book examines key concepts, principles, and applications of the service-learning approach. Service-learning is a community-based educational approach to improve a student’s academic, personal, leadership, civic, and professional development through civic engagement. Unlike other traditional approaches to education, service-learning students can use their classroom-based knowledge and skills in a real-life context in collaboration with community organisations and residents. This volume explores the theory, research, and practices of how service-learning is understood, implemented, and evaluated in different contexts. It provides essential guidelines to implement and integrate service-learning at educational institutions through extensive discussions on the principles, philosophical challenges, opportunities, and its applications. Key themes include: • Theory of service-learning • Concept of service-learning • Challenges to service-learning • Applications of service-learning • Service-learning as professional development • Service-learning as communication Accessibly written, this book would be of interest to faculty, students, community organisations, and researchers working in the areas of education, pedagogy, sociology, and social work.




Service-Learning in Asia


Book Description

Service-learning is a form of experiential education that combines academic study with community service. Learning occurs as students work with others through applying their academic knowledge to community needs and at the same time, reflecting on their experience and the real-world relevance of their skills. Service-learning in Asia: Curricular Models and Practices describes the development of service-learning in Asia around three themes: service-learning and indigenous traditions; service-learning and social justice education; and service-learning and multicultural education. The essays in this collection are multi-disciplinary, ranging from the field of social work to business. The discussions are also comprehensive, covering every dimension of service-learning from curricular designs to learning outcome assessment.




Effective and Meaningful Student Engagement Through Service Learning


Book Description

A paradigm shift is underway in education, challenging traditional teaching methods and calling for a more engaging and purposeful approach. It is necessary to explore how service learning empowers students to address real-world issues, fostering critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication skills essential for the 21st century. Effective and Meaningful Student Engagement Through Service Learning is a comprehensive exploration of the transformative power of service learning in contemporary education. Within this text, seasoned researchers and practitioners delve into the intricacies of student engagement, emphasizing the importance of active involvement in the learning process. This book opens with a reflection on education, where traditional practices give way to innovative pedagogies. This includes a new pedagogical approach that not only imparts knowledge but also cultivates socially responsible citizens. The book provides a rich tapestry of theoretical foundations, curriculum development strategies, and innovative pedagogical approaches that move beyond passive learning. From evaluating the impact of service learning to incorporating technology and measuring learning outcomes, each chapter offers theoretical frameworks, practical experiments, and real-life examples for educators, administrators, and policymakers. The diverse audience within and beyond the education sector, including students, faculty members, parents, policymakers, NGOs, and community organizations, will find within the pages of this book valuable insights and tools to create more effective and meaningful learning experiences. The book covers a broad spectrum of topics, from the institutionalization of service learning to motivations for sustainable engagement, making it an indispensable resource for anyone passionate about shaping the future of education.




Service-Learning for Youth Leadership


Book Description

This book examines service-learning – a valuable means of promoting civic engagement and youth leadership in students by enabling them to apply their knowledge to needy people in the community. It describes selected service-learning projects in different areas by highlighting the subjects being offered, service site(s), completed service projects, evaluation findings and teachers’ reflections. Although service-learning has increased tremendously in the West, its development in different Chinese societies is still in its infancy. As such, this book provides valuable insights on the implementation and future directions of the service-learning movement in China by documenting lessons learned and sharing success stories. It also discusses related evaluation findings and impacts on students to show that service-learning can increase students’ empathy, social awareness, social responsibility and psychosocial skills and as a result can improve their quality of life. In addition, the book highlights how service-learning activities promote the well-being of the clients and communities being served. It also stimulates thinking and sharpens the thoughts of educators, administrators and those who wish to promote the quality of life of students and service recipients through service-learning.




Service-Learning in Higher Education


Book Description

This book emerges from the discourse of the Third International Symposium on Service-Learning held at the University of Indianapolis in Athens, Greece, in November 2009 as part of the biennial collection of papers on service-learning. This fourth collection highlights service-learning (SL) theories and methods in higher education, presents selected case studies of local projects that exemplify the theories and methods in action, and points the way toward future possibilities for international partnerships. Part One demonstrates how practitioners have translated SL theory into model programs of best practices. Part Two examines nationally based SL experiences that enrich indigenous local communities, national communities, and teaching institutions. Part Three explores international SL (ISL) programs with their unique reciprocal national relationships, hybrid methodologies, and site-specific challenges. Part Four covers networking national SL settings to international venues while forecasting SL concepts that span academic disciplines and geographic distances. The selected papers in this collection were contributed by educators in twenty-three universities in four countries.




Building Soft Skills for Employability


Book Description

This book is among the first of its kind to comprehensively examine the implementation of soft skills in universities in the developing country, Vietnam. The context is unique as the implementation is taking place within the distinctive socio-economic, cultural and political characteristics of the country, amidst several simultaneously-executed educational reforms. Tran lays down the foundation for discussion by providing readers with a comprehensive review of how soft skills implementation has come into existence in higher education across the globe, before diving into the implementation of soft skills in Vietnamese universities. He goes on to highlight the interesting differences in the conceptualization of soft skills between Vietnamese universities and those in the West. The book depicts and compares how university leaders and managers tackle contextual factors, submit to constraints enforced by political forces, and how they use institutional advantages available for implementation. It goes further to examine how personal and contextual factors affect teachers’ and students’ engagement with the implementation, and highlights the role of work-integrated learning and extra-curricular activities in developing soft skills for students. Finally, the book investigates the contribution of external stakeholders, such as alumni, employers, skills experts, and local authorities, to the implementation and obstacles that prevent their participation. This book will be a valuable reference for the implementation of soft skills in higher education around the world.




Building Partnerships for Service-Learning


Book Description

It is clear that service-learning has the potential to yieldtremendous benefits to students, communities, and institutions ofhigher education. Increased student learning has been welldocumented. As communities gain new energy to meet their needs andgreater capacity to capitalize on their assets, service-learningenables higher education to fulfill its civic responsibility. Whenservice-learning lives up to its potential to lead colleges anduniversities to transform themselves into fully engaged citizens oftheir communities and the world, its ability to bring aboutpositive social change is limitless. To be successful, service-learning must be grounded in a widerange of solid, reciprocal, democratic partnerships. BuildingPartnerships for Service-Learning assembles leading voices inthe field to bring their expertise to bear on this crucial topic.Faculty, administrators, student leaders, and community andcorporate leaders will find this volume filled with vitalinformation, exemplary models, and practical tools needed to makeservice-learning succeed. Comprehensive in scope, Building Partnerships forService-Learning includes: Fundamentals and frameworks for developing sustainablepartnerships Assessment as a partnership-building process The complex dynamics of collaboration between academic affairsand student affairs Partnering with students to enhance service-learning How to create campuswide infrastructure forservice-learning Profiles and case studies of outstanding partnerships withneighborhoods, community agencies, and K-12 schools Partnerships for collaborative action research Exploring the challenges and benefits of corporate andinternational partnerships The dynamic relationship of service-learning and the civicrenewal of higher education Building Partnerships for Service-Learning is theessential guide to taking service-learning and partnerships to thenext level.




The Responsive University and the Crisis in South Africa


Book Description

The Responsive University puts forward the proposition that the societal legitimacy of universities depends on whether and how they respond to societal challenges. This issue is exemplified in South Africa, one of the most unequal countries in the world.