Workshop "Strengthening Relationships between Campus and Community" bei der Tagung...

Workshop at Building Bridges conference, Cardiff, 28.3.2013

Philip Meyer (philip.meyer@its.uni-augsburg.de)

Medialab, University of Augsburg, Germany

Strengthening Relationships between Campus and Community

Experiences with Service Learning Programmes in Higher Education

Recent tendency to put emphasis on the importance of civic and engagement for German Higher education institutions

Context: Study “Mission Society“

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Key terms:

„Civic Education“„Community Outreach“„Campus-Community-Partnerships“

„Service Learning“„Community-BasedResearch“„Social Entrepreneurship“

• Contest and funding programme to foster the „third mission“ at German universities (includes especially third [sector] mission)

• Honours universities with new concepts for civic responsibility

• Six of 78 participating universities were selected for funding

„More than research and teaching“

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The „Augsburg model“

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https://www.uni-augsburg.de/projekte/bildung-durch-verantwortung

• Latin phrase „Scientia et Conscientia“• „Scientia“ place of knowledge creation and science• „Conscientia“ place that inherits a „civic conscience“, teaching the

citicen‘s responsible role for community need

• Central aspects for studying in Augsburg• Individual Responsibility• Civic Engagement

• Goal: Commited and responsible graduates

Mission Statement

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• Building up an infrastructure which fits the university goal• Multiplicity of study programmes (from philosophy to engineering)• Heterogenous needs of students and teachers

• Necessity of different stages of commitment• Timeframe: effort students put in a community project• Connection to curricula• Degree of self-organisation

Stages of the Augsburg model

4 One year

3 One semester

2 One week

~ 500h

~100h

~ 40h

~ 8h1 One day

Student effort

No. of students: [-------------~1000----------------] [--------~500--------] [--~250---] [~100]

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• Started in the BA programme Global Business Management• Broadening of the event target group to all students (with help of

sponsoring partners)• Students do 8 hours of service in local Non-Profit institutions• Independent from curricula of different disciplines• Collaboration with the Augsburger voluntary association

1 day: event „Social Day“

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• Initiated by the university‘s Career Service institution• 40 hours of work for local Non Profits• Accompanied by workshops to reflect the experiences• Based on a well-proven Service Learning concept• Certification of community work (extra qualification)• No connection to specific curricula

1 week: Do it!-programme

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• Online courses at the Virtual Bavarian University (VHB)• Subject: teaching method „Service Learning“• Target mostly students of education and pedagogy• Conception, implementation and evaluation of a course• Connected with service in a local Non Profit organisation• Reflection of experiences

1 semester: Blended Service Learning seminars

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• Project seminars targeting several disciplines• Realisation of problem-oriented projects for the local community• Linking of practical experience with disciplinary learning goals• Interdisciplinary teamwork• ECTS points can be accredited• Workload around 100 hours

1 semester: Interdisciplinary courses

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• Additional qualifiaction for extraordinary civic engagement• For all students in all faculties• Consisting of two interdisciplinary service learning courses• Can in parts be accredited in bachelor/master programmes• 12 ECTS-points• Additional: Do it programme and final presentation

More: Certification programme

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• Programm to foster students‘ problem-solving competencies• Target group: Commited students of all disciplines• Self-organised project work over several terms• Can be partly accredtied in freely selectable minors in

bachelor/master programms• Maximum of 30 ECTS points• Workload of 300h to 900h

More: „Begleitstudium“

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Game Päd project• Project „from students for students“• Video game literacy for students

and parents• Workshops and trainings• Media education

Examples

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Fifth Dimension project• Student go to middle schools • Video production• aspect

Overview of current projects

www.uni-engagiert.de (work in progress)

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• How do we value it? What can motivate students and staff to work with the community? How can certification be done in a fitting, fair and competency-oriented manner?

• How do we sustain it? How can long-term engagment in the community be achieved? What culture isneeded for a not only task-

• „Credit Points for Fundraising?“ Where is the line and how do universities see their role in the community?

Topics for discussion

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Thank you for your attention!

Philip Meyer (philip.meyer@its.uni-augsburg.de)

Medialab, University of Augsburg, Germany