Students and the community - the mutual benefit of service-learning
Empowering students to contribute to their community while developing academic skills was the focus of a symposium held at the University of Newcastle in July 2008.The University’s Office of Corporate Development and Community Partnerships brought together education providers including the Department of Education and Training; Catholic Education Office; Independent Schools; University of Newcastle; TAFE NSW Hunter Institute as well as government and community organisations, service clubs and Empower service learning library for the inaugural Service-Learning Symposium in the Newcastle region.
Service-learning is a teaching method that brings together students and community members to work on mutually beneficial projects that meet community needs and achieve curriculum outcomes. Guest speakers included Professor Terry Lovat of the University of Newcastle, and Professors Barbara Holland and Shelley Billig, both renowned US scholars whose insight and expertise made for very interesting presentations.
This symposium is the first initiative in Australia bringing together all education sectors to discuss service learning. It is now anticipated this initiative will become a model for other regions across Australia.
If you would like to learn more about service learning, please click on the links below to download a copy of the presenters’ slides.
(L-R) Assoc Prof Martin Fitzgerald (PVC, Corporate Development and Community Partnerships, University of Newcastle), Prof Barbara Holland (PVC, Engagement, University of Western Sydney), Mr Ray Collins (Director of Schools, Catholic Schools Office, Diocese Maitland / Newcastle), Mr John Mather (Regional Director, DET, Hunter/Central Coast Region), Ms Margaret Richmond (Empower Service-Learning Library) and Mr Alan Green (Principal, Newcastle Grammar)