The CIVIS Expert Group Service-Learning has created and made available the CIVIS Service-Learning Guide for Lecturers at all CIVIS universities and associate member Universities in Africa in 2024. The guide aims to offer lecturers at all CIVIS universities a tool for better combining academic knowledge with civic engagement in their educational activities, by applying the pedagogical approach of service-learning.
Service-Learning is a pedagogical approach meant to increase students’ professional ability to advance the responsible application of science in society, while also ensuring a reciprocal transfer between science and society. By applying academic knowledge to practise with a social purpose, students can experience the results of their actions while learning and providing a service to the community. Thus, the guide offers lecturers an exciting way of teaching and learning.
Research has shown that students who participate in SL projects learn in a more comprehensive way and are more likely to become active in their community. Reflecting on this process helps them to understand their role in creating such results, grow personally, acquire a set of transversal competencies, and commit to future actions.
This guide aims to give lecturers a first insight into Service Learning, its key elements, and different forms, including international perspectives and digital means. Additionally, it provides tips for the design and implementation of their own SL project", says the CIVIS Expert Gropup on Service Learning
Authors: Prof. Pilar Aramburuzabala, Flavia Baccani, Dr Valérie Caraguel, Prof. Maria Iakovou, Prof. Elena López de Arana, Prof. Marian Marin, Prof. Marlen Mouliou, Franziska Müller, Dr Iris Niki Nikolopoulos, Isabel María Osuna Montilla, Radu Pintilii, Prof. Emiliane Rubat du Mérac.
Editors: Prof. Pilar Aramburuzabala, Dr Valérie Caraguel, Franziska Müller, Isabel María Osuna Montilla, Dr. Iris-Niki Nikolopoulos
Expert Group: Service-Learning, with the support of Ulla Harmala
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The Aix-Marseille Polycrisis Declaration (June 2026)
The Aix-Marseille Polycrisis Declaration is the outcome of the final conference of the PolyCIVIS Jean Monnet Network, a partnership of 21 African and European universities, most of them part of CIVIS Alliance. The declaration addresses the growing reality of the “polycrisis,” in which conflict, climate change, forced migration, economic insecurity, governance challenges, and social inequalities interact and reinforce one another. Recognising that young people are disproportionately affected by these interconnected crises, the declaration emphasises the need for stronger Africa–Europe cooperation and places youth agency, participation, and leadership at the center of responses to contemporary global challenges.- Global partnerships
- Polycrisis
- Policy recommendations
- Students
- Academics
- Researchers
- Civil society
- Policy makers
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European Universities alliances: Impact, Insights, and the Road Ahead (April 2026)
Since the launch of the European Universities initiative in 2019, alliances such as CIVIS have moved well beyond experimentation and are already transforming higher education. That was the clear message from the keynote panel held on 28 April, 2026 in Brussels as part of the CIVIS Units Summit, which brought together representatives from EU institutions, researchers and alliance leaders to take stock of achievements and challenges ahead and discuss with over 70 CIVIS Staff members about the future of alliances.- European Degree
- European Universities initiative
- Communication and Dissemination
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- Audiovisual materials
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- Students
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