Service learning in Italy: A bridge between Academia and Society

Service Learning builds a bridge between universities and society because it allows academia to assume social responsibility by taking charge of problems emerging from real-life scenarios. The University of Verona (Italy) started in 2015 a Community Service Research Learning (CSRL) within the Master’s Degree in Primary School Education. Its aim is to tighten the links between university and school communities, support schools in dealing with educational and social challenges, and promote teaching innovation. At the moment, the CSRL involves 131 students from the last two years and 94 schools in a geographical area covering five districts. Three studies have been conducted to analyze student and alumni feedback and to investigate the needs that teachers have to face in their daily activities