What is Service Learning?
Definition of Service Learning
Service Learning (hereinafter SL) is an educational program that combines learning processes and community service in a single project, so that it becomes a tool for training of students. Its main objective is to train socially responsible professionals, along with content learning, skills and abilities of each qualification, develops civic and social commitment from reflective practice. It is a proposal that has a big impact on education, as it allows university students to develop their social involvement with the territory, while carrying out their university studies.
- Listen to the programs about SL on Radio Tarragona
- See the videos about SL on Youtube Channel
Framework document
Framework document on Service Learning, passed by the Governing Council on 23 February 2012. On 26 February 2015, Governing Council approved the Action Plan for the period 2015-2017.
Service Learning at University
Internationally
- Campus Compact (USA) Campus Compact is a national coalition of more than 1,100 colleges and universities -the presidents representing some 6 million students committed to the realization of civil and social Higher Education. Promotes public service community that develops competitive ethics and social responsibility as a citizen of students. Helps the campus to consolidate effective links with the community and provides resources and training to meet the aspirations of teachers to integrate learning and community-based and society in the curriculum.
- National Service-Learning Clearinghouse (USA) Gives supports the higher education SL community in kindergartens, primary and secondary education, community-based organizations and all other stakeholders to strengthen links between schools and communities through Service Learning.
- Canadian Alliance for Community Service-Learning: Provides support, shape and create networks to ensure the effective implementation of SL in Canada. Its purpose is for students, educators and communities to learn and work together to strengthen individuals and society.
- The Talloires Network: International Network for the promotion of social responsibilities and civic functions of higher education which brings together more than 300 universities in 77 countries. Rovira i Virgili University take part of from January 2013. Belonging to this network offers opportunities for collaboration and exchange of best practices with other institutions of higher education socially engaged, enabling the development and steady growth of the program.
- Aurora European Universities Alliance: Aurora is a partnership of research-intensive European universities deeply committed to the social impact of our activities, and with a history of engagement with the communities in which we operate. The URV joined this partnership in 2019. Our overall vision is to use our academic excellence to influence societal change through our research and education. Our key priorities are to maximise the societal impact of our research, encourage diversity and inclusion, and use student engagement to drive innovation in teaching and learning.
In Spain
- Spanish Network Service Learning: Founded in 2010 as a space for collaboration between educational institutions, social organizations and professionals in various fields and promote autonomous regions of SL for years.
- Network ApS(U): Is an inter-university initiative, promoted by ICE of the University of Barcelona in 2010, and today is launching in universities of Spain and holds an annual meeting on the exchange experiences of SL at university.
In Catalonia
- Service Learning Developer Center: Is a place of confluence to generate initiatives and measures to facilitate and strengthen of the SL projects at all levels of education.
- Catalan Universities Service Learning Network – ApS(U)Cat: In July 2015 the Catalan Universities Network – APS(U)Cat was constituted with the aim of sharing strategies towards the development of this methodology within the Catalan university system. On July 10, 2017, the Universitat Rovira i Virgili hosted the 2nd Meeting of the Network. From January 25 to 27, 2023, the ApS(U)Cat Network organized the XI National and V International Congress on University Service-Learning, in Barcelona.
