University volunteering. The UJI-Voluntària programme at the Universitat Jaume I

Abstract

Modern society encourages the development of values like solidarity, social commitment, altruistic actions and the establishment of social support networks. These values have been transferred to the university curriculum and students appear increasingly interested in carrying out volunteering activities. Specifically, the Universitat Jaume I in Castelló implements the UJI-Voluntària Programme, which has different areas of action aimed at offering members of the university community the chance to take an active part in achieving a fairer society and helping the people or groups in greatest need. We carried out a study for which we had a sample consisting of 62 students. We applied a Likert-type scale to analyse their satisfaction with the volunteering programme and their motivation for taking part in it. We found that the vast majority were women and second-year students. As for their motivation, the majority indicate their desire to help other people, followed by a desire to learn, and personal satisfaction. Finally, in relation to student satisfaction, the majority were satisfied with the running and development of the programme.