Perceived efficacy and student profiles in the university Service- Learning

Abstract

The Service-Learning methodology at the university offers professional training related to the development of formative, academic and civic competencies linked to university studies. Its implementation makes it possible to bring the university closer to society by providing a service to the community. However, it is necessary to establish strategies in its application, in order to enhance the contributions that this methodology can offer to the educational field. In this context, the aim of this paper is to assess the effectiveness of the Service-Learning methodology from the perception of university students, analyzing the existing differences between the sociodemographic variables: studies, gender, age, course and ownership of the center, identifying, in turn, student profiles that show the level of applicability of University Service-Learning. Through a non-experimental exploratory study, information was collected from a total of 304 students from public and private universities in Spain. Within the Service-Learning methodology, three dimensions of the applied instrument (Formative, Learning and Service) are analyzed. The results obtained suggest a greater approach to service in entailment with the learning obtained at the university. The differential studies show the lack of recognition in the students of the Degree in Social Education, as well as the scarce response of the experience to their formative and academic expectations. Women show greater reflection and social sensitivity than men. And concerning the ownership of the center, students from private universities show a greater sense of service development. In addition, three student profiles are obtained with a variety of characteristics regarding the way in which the methodology is applied. The study concludes with the detection of the need to generate strategies to improve the Service-Learning methodology, with emphasis on favoring a more conscious learning about the competencies acquired in university degrees.

Keywords: service learning, high education, training, learning, community services, civics, education methodologies.