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24-01-2011
25-10-2010
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Research Service Learning
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Improving University Outreach: A Research and Service-Learning Model
Duke University
UNITED STATES
North America
Contact Information
Betsy Alden
In 1997, the Kenan Institute for Ethics teamed up with other departments at Duke University to create the Research Service-Learning (RSL) program. The model adopted by the RSL program re-examines the link between university research and service-learning programs. In particular, it enables students to explore in greater depth the concepts and skills of their fields of study. Under this program, students participating in service-learning are trained in how to link their academic research with their voluntary work.
Service-learning programmes are initiatives that aim to link student voluntary work with professional learning and with the training in ethics and social responsibility that the students receive in the university. The application of these programmes in US universities has revealed some challenges that should be faced in order to improve the service provided to the community. Specifically, it has been shown that students usually undertake voluntary work that requires few qualifications. This reduces the contribution that, as professionals in training, they could make to the community. Likewise, another challenge is for the students to broaden reflections on the impact of their participation in the communities. These are both key aspects that should be addressed in order to attain a quality service-learning model.
A model that links research and service-learning would: enable students to explore the concepts and skills of their degrees in greater depth; and increase the value of their social contribution.
The Duke University’s Institute for Ethics, in collaboration with other university departments, began the Research Service-Learning (RSL) programme in 1997. In 2002, this programme received funding from the federal government to extend it to the “Scholarships with a Civic Mission” (http://rslduke.mc.duke.edu/). The total funding of the programme to date has been over US$250,000.
The RSL method is a pedagogical initiative that establishes a link between service-learning programmes and university research. It involves training courses for students participating in service-learning. Students obtain training so that they can link academic research with their voluntary work.
Currently, the students’ association “Learning through experience, action, partnership and service” (LEAPS) and the university’s Service-Learning Office are collaborating in the programme.
A model that links research and service-learning would: enable students to explore the concepts and skills of their degrees in greater depth; and increase the value of their social contribution.
The Duke University’s Institute for Ethics, in collaboration with other university departments, began the Research Service-Learning (RSL) programme in 1997. In 2002, this programme received funding from the federal government to extend it to the “Scholarships with a Civic Mission” (http://rslduke.mc.duke.edu/). The total funding of the programme to date has been over US$250,000.
The RSL method is a pedagogical initiative that establishes a link between service-learning programmes and university research. It involves training courses for students participating in service-learning. Students obtain training so that they can link academic research with their voluntary work.
Currently, the students’ association “Learning through experience, action, partnership and service” (LEAPS) and the university’s Service-Learning Office are collaborating in the programme.
This program aims to promote a service-learning model that:
- Adds value to the students' learning process
- Increases the benefits to the community, as it improves the students' academic skills and abilities
- Helps the university to promote a socially relevant research model
The RSL program is divided into three different modules. The modules are designed to prepare undergraduate students to carry out a research project at the same time as undertaking service-learning. The modular design enables students to develop their abilities and to go into research methodology in depth, at the same time as learning ethical and civic responsibility principles. The last module of the program is called 'Scholarship with a Civic Mission'. It represents a higher degree of specialization.
The modules are:
Students who complete all stages of the course will be given a Duke Civic Scholars certificate.
Program pathways:
Regardless of the training module, the RSL method is organized into pathways. Thus, students can choose training pathways with an interdisciplinary focus or pathways that are related to a specific academic discipline. Choices can be made according to a students' interests.
There are currently three interdisciplinary pathways:
1- Human development and education
2- Human rights and humanitarian issues
3- Public health inequalities
There are two disciplinary pathways:
1- Political science
2- Public policy
The division of the course into modules and pathways enables all of the objectives of the RSL method to be obtained. However, students are also encouraged to discuss new models and to develop their own pathways according to their interests. RSL program staff support their choices.
The modules are:
- Gateways: Introduces key aspects of service-learning and the basic abilities needed to carry out research and reflection on some ethical principles. The module ends with the presentation of a research project based on the service-learning experience.
- Community-based research opportunity: This involves the field research that the students carry out in connection with their service-learning. Students have to write a research diary, including academic aspects and reflections on ethical and civic aspects of their work.
- Capstones: This module is included in the Scholarship with a Civic Mission program, in which all students should choose a research project to draw up in collaboration with the communities that they are working in.
Students who complete all stages of the course will be given a Duke Civic Scholars certificate.
Program pathways:
Regardless of the training module, the RSL method is organized into pathways. Thus, students can choose training pathways with an interdisciplinary focus or pathways that are related to a specific academic discipline. Choices can be made according to a students' interests.
There are currently three interdisciplinary pathways:
1- Human development and education
2- Human rights and humanitarian issues
3- Public health inequalities
There are two disciplinary pathways:
1- Political science
2- Public policy
The division of the course into modules and pathways enables all of the objectives of the RSL method to be obtained. However, students are also encouraged to discuss new models and to develop their own pathways according to their interests. RSL program staff support their choices.
- In the 2005-2006 academic year, 18 gateway modules and 7 community-based research modules were taught.
- A total of 437 students have participated in the gateway module; 111 students have taken the second module and 3 students are currently taking the last module.
- Twenty-one faculties, 9 departments and 48 civil society associations have participated in the programme.
1997; active
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