European Universities Enhance Soft Skills and Civic Engagement through Service-Learning
Achievements and Milestones
SL combines academic coursework with community service, enabling students to develop practical skills needed for succeeding in the modern labour market, while addressing real-world challenges in their communities.
The project, coordinated by the French NGO Eurasia Net, aimed to spread the implementation of SL practices within European universities. Thus, its outcomes - a guidebook, the mapping of service-learning activities, the training course and all the deliverables of the project, are publicly available to be used as guidelines for service-learning best practices.
The ultimate goal was to reinforce collaboration between students, teachers, academic staff, and civil society organisations to create a more socially engaged and relevant higher education system.
Key Phases and Accomplishments:
- Mapping existing SL practices in the universities was the first step in the development of the project, in order to collect meaningful quantitative and qualitative data that could lead to a better understanding of institutional pedagogic cultures about SL. Coordinated by the NKUA, which prepared and implemented all necessary steps and materials for the collection of required qualitative and quantitative material, this phase analysed current SL implementations at European universities. The results, including both quantitative and qualitative data, are publicly available.
- Teacher training course was organised by the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, in which over 60 educators from the five partner institutions participated. The courses were designed to familiarise teachers and teaching coordinators with the theoretical aspects of Service Learning, as well as to promote the integration of this methodology into curricula. The aim was to promote active learning and civic engagement for students as part of their university career.
- European Forum on Service-Learning, held at the end of June 2024, in Bucharest. It brought together 80 participants from partner universities and civil society organisations to share insights, present projects, and celebrate student-led initiatives. The event featured 10 interactive sessions and a final awards ceremony recognising outstanding SL projects.
- Service-Learning Guidebook is a comprehensive guidebook serving as a valuable resource for universities looking to implement or enhance SL practices.
By listening to the voices of the participants, it is possible to understand the concrete impact of Service-Learning. The students named it an experience which made them more aware and ready to face the world of work, with a greater orientation toward social responsibility and civic engagement. Participants also report how the project helped them develop expendable soft skills in their professional future. All the interviews are available on the dedicated YouTube channel.
Looking Ahead
As the project concludes, its impact will continue to resonate across European universities. The initiative has not only enhanced university teaching practices but also created lasting connections between academia, civil society, and students. By promoting the exchange of knowledge, the project has made higher education more relevant and socially engaged.
The project’s legacy includes a model for fostering collaboration and preparing students for future challenges. The resources and methodologies developed will serve as a foundation for future initiatives aimed at integrating SL practices into higher education.