Позитивные изменения. Том 3, № 3 (2023). Positive changes. Volume 3, Issue 3 (2023)
Шрифт:
Выделение «обучения служением» в отдельное направление и последовательное, целенаправленное внедрение его в России, что называется, назрело. И это не мода, и не быстропреходящая тенденция – это совершенно естественная адаптация к новому, меняющемуся миру, где все ценнее становится осознанность каждого отдельного человека. Так же, как на смену печатной машинке пришли современные технологии в виде компьютеров, смартфонов и интернета, сейчас все сложнее представить себе учреждение высшей школы, где не внедряются образовательные технологии, актуальные в первую очередь с точки зрения гуманизма, ценностей, принятых в современном обществе. Вернее, представить, конечно, можно, но такой вуз просто не выдержит конкуренции с теми, кто улавливает новые тенденции
И хотя существует еще масса противоречий: должно это быть основной программой или факультативом, непрерывным обучением или нет, всех ли студентов без исключения стоит погружать в эту историю, возможна ли мультидисциплинарность, что лучше – групповой или индивидуальный подход, чья должна быть инициатива и проч. – процесс стартовал – и стартовал мощно. А что будет в будущем (а «обучение служением» это именно работа с будущим) – скоро узнаем!
Service Learning: Global Trend Comes to Russia
Tatiana Pechegina, Alina Yashina
DOI 10.55140/2782–5817–2023–3–3–15–25
Starting September 1, 2023, a new educational module known as “Service Learning” has been introduced across 100 Russian universities. The concept is a brainchild of the collaboration between the experts from the Ministry of Education and Science, the Association of Volunteer Centers, and the Higher School of Economics. The trend of reshaping higher education institutions into socially-conscious entities, enabling students to actively contribute to societal progress, is rapidly gaining momentum worldwide. In this feature, we delve into the origins of this initiative that plays its role in nurturing both higher education and the nonprofit sector. We also explore the ongoing implementation of this methodology in Russia, along with valuable insights from key experts in the field, providing a glimpse into what lies ahead.
Tatiana Pechegina
Journalist
Alina Yashina
Deputy Chair of the Association of Volunteer Centers Council
Over the past two to three decades, the transition of higher education institutions into multi-dimensional entities, embracing the third mission of societal development and resolution of pertinent socio-economic challenges, has become a global norm. Within this framework, specific programs have been tailored to support the realization of this third mission, often integrated into global university rankings on an international scale.
A central challenge in engaging universities within the realm of socially innovative endeavors, encompassing their third mission, is the harmonization of core educational and research objectives with the desired outcomes of social innovation. These outcomes could span new social services or initiatives. The foundational role of universities within society remains anchored in delivering a higher standard of education to students and faculty. While the third mission, which propels the development of a social innovation ecosystem, plays a secondary role, it somewhat competes alongside the primary missions. Distinctively, this mission, as well as social innovation development by universities in general, relies on collaboration, first and foremost with non-academic entities. [54]
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Gladkikh, N. Yu. (2020). Report on the research work “Practices of university participation in the development of social innovation: international experience.” Retrieved from:(accessed: 18.08.2023).
Pragmatic pedagogical methods, exemplified by project-based learning, have proven the most effective in educating individuals about sustainable development. Student feedback consistently emphasizes their inclination towards practical applications. Collaborative endeavors involving universities and non-profit organizations (NGOs) play a pivotal role, with students actively participating in tangible and socially significant projects that remain etched in their memory for years. Achieving this transformation necessitates changes within universities, primarily through an internal metamorphosis where the university’s ideology and culture inherently embrace external partnerships and an aspiration to drive societal change and address social challenges. This paradigm shift is particularly significant in reshaping educators’ perspectives on the learning process.
A fundamental component of the third mission, focusing on engagement with non-profit organizations and the creation of pathways for social initiatives, is service learning. This approach merges academic study with the cultivation of community-focused skills, entwining learning with practical application. This fosters the development of soft skills in students, that is, the competencies that go beyond the professional expertise and are crucial in the present landscape.
The concept of service learning draws inspiration from the social constructivism theories by Jean Piaget (Switzerland), John Dewey (USA), and Lev Vygotsky (USSR), who developed the concept of socialization underlying the modern education system. This approach champions the notion of actively shaping the future in the present, placing individual values and interests at the heart of the construct, mobilizing the individual’s willpower and responsibility. [55]
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Reshetnikov, O. V. (2016). Constructing and designing social reality: from concept to realization. Local Law, (3), 79–90.
Globally, service learning has evolved into a customary practice, garnering official government-level endorsements. Noteworthy examples include Great Britain, Nigeria, Argentina, Portugal, Brazil, Venezuela, Chile, and Spain, where civic and social service courses thrive within the educational framework, and the respective institutions organize the volunteering activities of school and university students in community centers, etc. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) incorporates a corresponding track across its curriculum, enabling students to consistently engage with social initiatives embedded in educational programs and courses.
Service learning represents an educational technology and pedagogical practice that blends the areas of learning and community service through tangible projects. In these collaborative endeavors, students work alongside representatives from the non-profit sector to address real-world cases aimed at the betterment of the surrounding environment – in a broader sense. In simple terms, it means the practical implementation of educational initiatives which contain social good. [56] This approach stimulates the student’s interest in discovering their individual uniqueness and plays a pivotal role in shaping their value framework. Ultimately, it exerts a direct influence on personal development and the trajectory of an individual’s life.
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Gaete Sepulveda, M. A. (2022). Service learning through project and application activities. Methodological guidelines for universities. Retrieved from:(accessed: 18.08.2023).