Teaching students the value of giving back

Teaching and Learning

Getting university students involved in the community through work with non-profit organisations and service-oriented small businesses can be as good for their education as it is for their souls.

Internationally recognised as an expert in the field of service-learning, Dr Amy Kenworthy from Bond’s Faculty of Business has launched a major teaching initiative that could see course-based community service integrated into university education Australia-wide.

“Service-learning is a teaching tool that teams students with community-based organisations on a project basis, allowing them to apply skills learnt in the classroom to real-life situations,” said Dr Kenworthy.

“The work students undertake is fully integrated into a specific aspect of their studies; for example, students may design and implement an outreach program, develop a strategic plan or undertake a feasibility study.

“The immediate benefit for students is that they have an opportunity to translate theory into practice; they learn through application and the creation of something that benefits society as a whole while the partner community organisations gain expertise that they may not otherwise be able to afford.

“In the longer term, service-learning projects may generate in students a sense of civic responsibility and social awareness that, ideally, students carry with them throughout their future careers.”

Whilst service-learning projects are run at a number of universities on an ad hoc basis, Dr Kenworthy's goal is to develop a structured system involving universities from all over Australia.

With initial funding provided by the Gold Coast City Council through their Economic Development branch, several service-learning programs involving Bond Business students are already taking place. Future projects will involve community organisations such as the local Chambers of Commerce and the Gold Coast Food Forum, as well as emerging new businesses.

“In recent years we have seen some incredibly unethical and uncivic actions performed by business people in major corporations both here in Australia and overseas. Through service-learning integration in all aspects of university education, we, as educators, have the potential to instil in our students a broad, community-based and real-world oriented understanding about the short- and long-term ripple effects of managerial decisions.

“Our goal is for today’s business students to emerge as tomorrow’s civic and socially-minded business leaders.”

Key Project Team Members

• Dr Amy Kenworthy - Bond University

Funding Sources

• Gold Coast City Council