Service Learning builds a bridge between universities and society because it allows academia to assume social responsibility by co-designing solutions to problems emerging from real-life scenarios. Prompted by the needs of their community, in 2015, the University of Verona (Italy) started a Community Service Research Learning (CSRL) program within the combined Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree in Primary Teacher Education. The program is aimed at strengthening links between the university and school communities, to support schools in dealing with educational and social challenges, and to promote teaching innovation. Today, the school-university partnership involves 94 schools in a geographical area covering five districts in the north of Italy. This chapter explores the theoretical basis that underpins the partnership, and provides insights into the impact of the partnership through an analysis of various studies aimed at investigating the feedback of the students and of the alumni. The chapter outlines useful elements to evaluate the effectiveness of the partnership which links the University of Verona and local school communities, sustained by the endorsement of the university authorities.
Service learning in Italy: a bridge between academia and society
Luigina Mortari;Roberta Silva
2023-01-01
Abstract
Service Learning builds a bridge between universities and society because it allows academia to assume social responsibility by co-designing solutions to problems emerging from real-life scenarios. Prompted by the needs of their community, in 2015, the University of Verona (Italy) started a Community Service Research Learning (CSRL) program within the combined Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree in Primary Teacher Education. The program is aimed at strengthening links between the university and school communities, to support schools in dealing with educational and social challenges, and to promote teaching innovation. Today, the school-university partnership involves 94 schools in a geographical area covering five districts in the north of Italy. This chapter explores the theoretical basis that underpins the partnership, and provides insights into the impact of the partnership through an analysis of various studies aimed at investigating the feedback of the students and of the alumni. The chapter outlines useful elements to evaluate the effectiveness of the partnership which links the University of Verona and local school communities, sustained by the endorsement of the university authorities.
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