A study by the Research Center for Human Development (CEDH) of the Faculty of Education and Psychology (FEP), carried out in collaboration with three other higher education institutions, concluded that the Service-Learning (SL) methodology is an effective tool for increase university students’ literacy on sustainable development.
The research, called Educating for the sustainable development goals through service-learning: University students' perspectives about the competences developed, presents the results of an experience implemented at the Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP), in Porto, involving three different UCP units (the UDIP, FEP and CPBS), in which 15 students from different courses were challenged to provide training to external students on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), after having received training on the topic.
The aim was to analyze whether the ApS methodology, used within the scope of this experience, contributed to increasing students' knowledge about the SDGs.
The 15 students involved in the experience revealed that the project helped them not only increase their literacy on sustainable development (one of the main objectives), but also helped them in their academic, professional learning and personal development.
According to the participants, the ApS project also contributed to promoting awareness about the SDGs among target students (students from Portuguese hig schools and foreign universities), predisposing them to change their practices and attitudes.
“This study reinforces the importance of including curricular units in the curriculum of universities focused on education for sustainability, highlighting the ApS methodology as an effective tool for this purpose”, says Luísa Mota Ribeiro, first author of the study, developed in collaboration with other members from UCP, as well as with elements from Indiana University, University of Minho, and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.
“The study can be considered a contribution to how the ApS methodology can be implemented in higher education institutions to promote the sustainable development of university students”, adds the researcher.
The role of Service-Learning in defining students’ life purpose
Another CEDH investigation on ApS highlighted the importance of this methodology in defining the life purpose of higher education students.
Entitled Purpose in Life in Higher Education: Is There a Role for Service-Learning?, the paper involved 112 students from the 4 UCP Regional Centres, who were attending curricular units adopting the Service-Learning methodology.
The investigation analyzed the life purpose of these students and sought to understand whether it changed after participating in an ApS project.
More than 70% of students said they had changed their life purpose “a lot” or “moderately” after participating in an ApS project.
Students consider that this teaching-learning methodology meets their desires for personal and social growth, and they review themselves in its application.
Additionally, more than 70% consider that being involved in activities that help others is very or completely part of their identity.
“Universities play an important role in promoting the development of students’ life purpose, and Service-Learning is an excellent example of a methodology that can contribute to this end”, says Luísa Mota Ribeiro, first author of the study, which results from collaboration between members of the 4 UCP Regional Centres, the University of Porto, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, University of Minho and Indiana University.
“For this reason and taking into account the benefits associated with the practice of Service-Learning, it is important to defend its integration in higher education institutions”, concludes the researcher.
Both papers were developed within the scope of the CApS project, which is currently being implemented at the Universidade Católica. This project aims to institutionalize and promote the dissemination of the ApS methodology, not only within UCP, but also among other Portuguese higher education institutions.
About Service-Learning
ApS is an active learning methodology, in which students learn, developing a service in and with the community.
The methodology aims to develop students' social awareness and active citizenship, encouraging them to become agents of change in the community where they live.