Document Type

Journal article

Source Publication

Gateways : International Journal of Community Research and Engagement

Publication Date

2013

Volume

6

First Page

178

Last Page

198

Keywords

Service-Learning, Knowledge transfer, Whole-person education, Experiential Education, Higher Education, Campus-community partnership

Abstract

Service-learning, where university students are trained to serve or educate the less able for a defined number of voluntary work hours and where the service experience is relevant to the course into which the service is integrated, can be an effective means of community engagement. Many universities in the US have factored in a term for credit-bearing service-learning courses, so that students are oriented to developing a service mentality and nurturing a ‘giving culture’ on campus. In the Asia Pacific region, Lingnan University, with its liberal arts ethos, is the first university in Hong Kong to use service-learning as a vehicle for knowledge transfer between university and community. The first service-learning program was offered by the Faculty of Social Sciences in 2004 as an optional learning experience, and the university is now moving towards making service-learning a graduation requirement that bears academic credits. Service-learning is currently integrated in the majority of disciplines of the university, as part of the undergraduate program. In addition to detailing the history, development and operation of the service-learning program, this article discusses the lessons learned in the institutionalisation of service-learning, as well as the way forward for service-learning in higher education in Hong Kong.

DOI

10.5130/ijcre.v6i1.3286

E-ISSN

18363393

Publisher Statement

Copyright © UTSePress and the authors.

Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.

Full-text Version

Publisher’s Version

Language

English

Recommended Citation

Ma, C. H. K., & Chan, A. C. M. (2013). A Hong Kong university first: Establishing service-learning as an academic credit-bearing subject. Gateways: International Journal of Community Research and Engagement, 6, 178-198. doi: 10.5130/ijcre.v6i1.3286

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