Service Learning

Service learning (SL) is a learning and teaching method: While students are engaged in the local community (service), they develop and prove their academic skills and knowledge (learning). The origins of SL can be seen in the American tradition of pragmatism and the belief that a democratic society needs active citizens and that, consequently, the educational process has to enable and foster active citizenship. With this in mind, SL gives students in an academic setting the chance to have problem-based experiences and gain knowledge in different fields of civil society. The outcome is the development of a professional and methodical ability, on the one hand, and an understanding of the problems and needs of civil society, on the other hand.

From an educational point of view, ...