Start Date

2-6-2009 9:30 AM

End Date

2-6-2009 9:45 AM

Description

The motto “serve the people” tended to yield lip service under the politicization and de-politicization of the Chinese economic state (Chen, 2004). Recent change in China’s general public policy (GPP) has shown a growing commitment to service as a government function and social aspiration. Higher education as a social institution has also experienced dramatic changes, from “serve proletarian politics” to “serve modernization construction”. “Serve the people” is now paid new attention in Chinese higher education policy. Although Chinese institutions of higher education have long engaged students in “practical learning”, promoting service as a learning activity and pedagogy requires a more systematic approach. Important issues are discussed from cross-cultural and interdisciplinary perspectives, including conception, project design, learning objectives, and outcomes assessment.

Recommended Citation

Chen, S. (2009, June). Promoting service-learning in China: Historical, cross-cultural, and interdisciplinary issues and perspectives. Paper presented at the 2nd Asia-Pacific Regional Conference on Service-Learning: Crossing borders, Making Connections: Service-Learning in Diverse Communities, Hong Kong and Guangzhou, China.

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Jun 2nd, 9:30 AM Jun 2nd, 9:45 AM

Promoting service-learning in China : historical, cross-cultural, and interdisciplinary issues and perspectives

The motto “serve the people” tended to yield lip service under the politicization and de-politicization of the Chinese economic state (Chen, 2004). Recent change in China’s general public policy (GPP) has shown a growing commitment to service as a government function and social aspiration. Higher education as a social institution has also experienced dramatic changes, from “serve proletarian politics” to “serve modernization construction”. “Serve the people” is now paid new attention in Chinese higher education policy. Although Chinese institutions of higher education have long engaged students in “practical learning”, promoting service as a learning activity and pedagogy requires a more systematic approach. Important issues are discussed from cross-cultural and interdisciplinary perspectives, including conception, project design, learning objectives, and outcomes assessment.