Experiencing service learning partnership: A human development perspective of community members

Abstract

Service–learning has, arguably, gained significant currency as a pedagogical and engagement mechanism within the broader discourse of universities and their role in community development. However, less emphasis has been placed on the human development dimensions of service–learning for community members, with the focus largely being on students’ experiential learning and other academic outcomes for the university. Though usually conceived as an integral part in university–community partnerships, community members’ role in the conception and implementation of service–learning initiatives is from a peripheral position. In this paper, we interrogate this lacuna by applying core tenets of the human development approach to document the experiences and perceptions of community members within a university–community service learning partnerships. From the analysis of qualitative data n = 22, we demonstrate that while service–learning enhances agency, it continues to operate within a historical context and contemporary political economy of South Africa, which obscure community members’ active participation and empowerment towards inclusive and sustainable valued outcomes.

Citizenship education to promote civic engagement among Arabic speaking student teachers in Israel

“…The results of this study are in line with other studies that found that service learning has positive effects on participants (Folgueiras et al, 2020; Mitchell, 2015; Stukas et al, 2016). Nonetheless, Mtawa and Fongwa (2022) warn that higher education institutions that provide service learning programs should be aware of power relations and that the needs and voices of beneficiary communities and organizations should be taken into account. Otherwise, service learning may become exploitative, using the beneficiaries’ needs and knowledge as resources for their students’ learning, without adequately responding to host communities.…”

“…Service learning is a pedagogical method that combines community service with students’ accumulation of practical experience, reflection, and academic learning (cf. Bhargava and Jerome, 2020; Birdwell et al, 2013; Folgueiras et al, 2020; Mtawa and Fongwa, 2022). It is located on a continuum between internship and volunteering (Salam et al, 2019).…”

The Influence of a Student-Led Advertising Agency Service-Learning Project on SMME Client Satisfaction: An Expectancy–Disconfirmation Paradigm

“…involves intentionally linking service activities with the academic curriculum to address real community needs while students learn through active engagement and reflection". There has been S-L growth in recent business education research [10][11][12][13][14], especially in the discipline of marketing inquiries [7,[15][16][17]. The discipline of marketing is suitably compatible with S-L pedagogy because SMMEs and NPOs (non-profit organizations) frequently require marketing services but are unable to procure such services due to no or limited funds [2,17].…”

“…Additionally, S-L mostly targets NPOs since these organizations mainly depend on volunteers and donations to attain their objectives. Though, there has been rapid growth in the use of S-LPs to assist SMMEs both internationally [7,10,14] and locally [13,18,19] in recent years. Market research, business and marketing plan development, marketing materials, and tools, which include advertising/MC campaigns, social media, and websites to increase sales and customers, are examples of typical marketing-related S-LPs for SMMEs [8,19].…”

“…Market research, business and marketing plan development, marketing materials, and tools, which include advertising/MC campaigns, social media, and websites to increase sales and customers, are examples of typical marketing-related S-LPs for SMMEs [8,19]. Some international investigations report growth in SMME performance [7,20], but few South African S-L inquiries consider the benefits of this pedagogy on SMMEs [13,19,21]. Mungaray-Lagarda et al [7] also asserted that business and marketing S-LPs are important in assisting with disadvantaged SMMEs (microenterprises) particularly in developing countries.…”