Abstract:
Service learning, a structured learning
experience, blends voluntary community service with academic
learning. This paper reports the innovation which fostered
reflection and assessment leading to deeper understanding of
course content and civic engagement, applying academic
knowledge, critical thinking and problem solving skills, through
collaborative partnership between University, corporates and
community. To date, this remains the only credit based Service
Learning course offered by a Sri Lankan university. The pilot
programme launched by the Career Guidance Unit (CGU),
Faculty of Science, and University of Colombo in 2012, was
developed as a design-based research. Following intensive
literature review and discussion with teaching faculty, CGU
obtained formal approval for the integration of “Service
Learning” to the Bachelor of Science curriculum. In the pilot
study, the faculty collaborated with three corporate sponsors
through three service learning projects connecting with
academic learning goals. Faculty project coaches, corporate
project partners, and student groups collaborated in project
planning and implementation. Evaluation was based on
interviews, written reports, and presentations. The programme
has matured and is continued to-date with strongly encouraging
outcomes of this pioneering exercise. Service learning is
recommended as an effective pedagogy for the Sri Lankan
university system, capable of transforming traditional teaching
and learning practices.
