UNAEUROPA SEED FUNDING
A collaborative UNAEUROPA service-learning network to transform teaching and learning in the European Space of Higher Education
The project
The project "A collaborative UNAEUROPA service-learning network to transform teaching and learning in the European Space of Higher Education" funded under the Una Europa Seed Funding 2019 program coordinated by Cinzia Albanesi, Department of Psychology " Renzo Canestrari" in collaboration with Laura Cuervo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Nicolas Standaert, KU Leuven. Initially planned to carry out in-person workshops for UNA Europa academic staff and researchers to discuss the implementation and institutionalization of the Service-Learning methodology in the Universities of the UNA Europa network.
The research team
Cinzia Albanesi, Department of Psychology " Renzo Canestrari", University of Bologna
Christian Compare, Department of Psychology " Renzo Canestrari", University of Bologna
Laura Cuervo, Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Nicolas Standaert, KU Leuven
Sara Vantournhout,KU Leuven
Objectives and methodology
Due to the pandemic, the researchers of the team decided not to organize this workshop by December 2021 and to rethink the structure and activities of the project without substantially changing the expected outcomes.
The research team planned to focus on a "Participatory - Action - Research" with the aim to collect practices and experiences around evaluation and define guidelines/recommendations to be shared in the UNA Europe network.
A common framework on SL evaluation across the UNAEUROPA network can facilitate trans-European exchanges and contribute to the creation of a European learning space. The participatory action-research uses either focus groups and interviews to understand how, when and what is currently being evaluated in SL experiences in three UNAEUROPA universities (University of Bologna, Universidad Complutense de Madrid KU Leuven).
Key Questions
As part of the research, faculty and community partners were invited to discuss four main topics:
- what they think is relevant to evaluate in SL experiences;
- what kind of evaluation of the impact of SL on students and the community at the local level is currently being adopted in their institutions or organizations;
- when this evaluation takes place (is it an ongoing process?);
- who is/should be involved in the evaluation process.
Activities
A workshop on the initial results took palce during the 4th European Conference on Service-Learning in Higher Education 16th- 17th of September 2021, Bucharest, "Romania Universities Meet Local Communities. Service-Learning in Higher Education." See the conference website here.
Advancing European Service-Learning through evaluation
A 5-minute video explaining the meaning of evaluation and assessment of Service Learning from the point of view of its actors (students, teachers and community members).
Outputs of the project
Here you can find the research outputs that have been produced