Development of Employability Skills through Service-Learning

Higher education typically adopts the banking concept of teaching and learning.  Students are containers into which professors deposit information.  Students listen, memorize, and repeat.

Employers are looking for more than that which universities are depositing into students.  Character and interpersonal skills are not easily developed in formal educational environments.  Non-formal education is needed.

Service-learning pedagogy integrates academics, action and reflection in social-change oriented work.  More than four decades of research affirm the positive impact of service-learning on the academic learning, social development, and leadership capabilities of students.

This research explores the development of employability skills through service-learning.

 

Openness to Experience, Diversity, and Learning Outcomes in a Team Dynamics Interview Assignment

Currently, sixty students from The Corvinus University of Budapest are engaged in a team development initiative for local non-profit organizations and social-enterprises.

Through interviews and discussions students present themselves as learners.  Students seek out local teams and, foster dialogue, explore elements of group dynamics, and offer developmental insights.  Conversations emerge around a multitude of team-related topics: establishing safe and productive communication environments, celebrating and benefiting from diversity, understanding individual and group motivation, and fostering both individual and team creativity.

We are pleased to have received much positive feedback from local teams.  In the last 6 years, students have served 8 public schools, 26 non-profit organizations and 42 local businesses.  We are thankful for the community partners who have made this possible!

If you are interested in hosting a student-consulting team, please contact Mark Newell at mark.newell@servicelearning.hu.