Embedding Service Learning in European Higher Education: Developing a Culture of Civic Engagement

Service learning brings together students, academics and the community whereby all become teaching resources, problem solvers and partners. In addition to enhancing academic and real-world learning, the overall purpose of service learning is to instil in students a sense of civic engagement and responsibility and work towards positive social change within society.

Embedding Service Learning in European Higher Education promotes service learning as a pedagogical approach that develops civic engagement within higher education. It both describes and assesses the most recent developments and contextual positioning of service learning in European higher education and considers if and how the pedagogy is responding to European Union policy and the strategy of higher education institutions and towards engagement with broader societal issues.

With case studies from 12 universities across Europe, this book draws on existing practice, shares knowledge and develops best practice to provide conceptual and practical tools for teaching, researching and practising service learning. This book:

• exposes service learning as a key approach in terms of embedding a culture of political and civic literacy within higher education;
• considers service learning in Europe, an area of growing research in service learning practice;
• explores the issue of university social responsibility;
• presents chapters from leaders in the service learning movement at a national and international level.

Practical and engaging, Embedding Service Learning in European Higher Education is a fascinating read for anyone working in service learning as well as those working at universities with an interest in social and civic engagement and institutional reform.

Pilar Aramburuzabala is an associate professor and department chair at the School of Teacher Training and Education of the Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain.

Lorraine McIlrath directs the Community Knowledge Initiative at the National University of Ireland Galway and has keynoted around the world and is an elected member of the Steering Committee of the Talloires Network since 2014.

Héctor Opazo is director and founder of the ABC lab (Laboratorio de Aprendizaje Basado en la Comunidad) and research professor at Universidad Católica Silva Henríquez Chile.