Instituting a Service-Learning Requirement in Higher Education: Evaluation and Lessons Learned

Grace Ngai, Cindy H.Y. Lam, Kam por Kwan, Stephen C.F. Chan

Research output: Chapter in book / Conference proceedingChapter in an edited book (as author)Academic researchpeer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We found that students generally perceived that they learned quite a lot from service-learning. Learning gains are strongly correlated to the student’s interest and the learning experience, while the correlations to the student’s grade and whether they took service-learning primarily to fulfil the requirement are weak. It can be considered an encouraging affirmation of the decision to make service-learning compulsory. On the other hand, some students found the physical hardship tougher than expected. Some also have difficulties when the realities in the field were different from their expectations, when their preparations were inadequate, etc. Cultural and other factors seem to pose interesting challenges different from what is commonly presented in literature. Some lessons may be relevant to global adoption of service-learning as an educational pedagogy.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationQuality of Life in Asia
PublisherSpringer
Pages323-341
Number of pages19
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019

Publication series

NameQuality of Life in Asia
Volume12
ISSN (Print)2211-0550
ISSN (Electronic)2211-0569

Keywords

  • Higher education
  • Impacting factors
  • Mandatory service-learning
  • Perceived challenges
  • Student learning experience

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Administration
  • Demography
  • Development
  • Education

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