Dr. Rebecca DAVIS / Advancing Best Practices in Child Protection through Global Service Learning
Abstract:
Global service-learning in higher education provides a pedagogical challenge for ethical, evidence-based education and service with attention to social justice. As service-learning and community engagement (SLCE) has flourished in higher education, experiences that challenge practices that reinforce deficit thinking and privileged perspectives are critical in global and local service-learning experiences. This presentation explores “Orphan Tourism” as an example of how service learning can perpetuate and “glorify” harmful practices in child and family protection, even with the best of intentions. UNICEF’s global initiative to combat “orphanage volunteerism” and promote ethical forms of global engagement is highlighted within the context of the historical evolution of evidence-based, reflective service-learning practices in child protection, with initial beginnings in Eastern Europe.
Dr. Carol MA / Current and Future Trend of Service-Learning Development in the World
Abstract:
Service-Learning has been promoting in the past two decades as a pedagogy to advance student learning, faculty scholarships and community partnership. There is a rapid development of Service-Learning around the globe, for example, Europe Engage develops a culture of civic engagement through Service-Learning within higher education; Tallories network strengthens the civic roles and social responsibilities of higher education globally; International Center for Service-Learning in Teachers Education engages teachers in Service-Learning education from K1 to Higher Education; International Association for Research on Service-Learning and Community Engagement promotes faculty scholarships and international stakeholders dialogues and global research agenda; And the set up of Service-Learning Asia Network speeds up the movement and partnerships of the Service-Learning in the region, especially, the host of the biannual regional Service-Learning conference in Asia Pacific region becomes a showcase and partnership platform to share the best practices. Along with growing international/regional networks and a more robust evidence base, educators are increasingly searching for ways to incorporate service-learning more broadly into their academic, social innovation and study abroad programmes. Given the severity of the Covid 19 pandemic, there is a collective movement for racial justice, aged care and existential threats caused by global warming. And more educators have developed E-Service-Learning curriculum and international Service-Learning webinars to engage students, community partners and faculty members from local to global. These could be the future development in the new normal. A set of recommendations for building inter-institutional networks among institutions to mobilize knowledge, share best practices and leverage resources to more effectively serve communities across international borders will be discussed.
Dr. Rajesh TANDON / Participatory Research for Sustainable Development
Abstract:
The keynote will focus on understanding the key principles of participatory research, its partnership and mutual learning methodology, and its contributions to transformative and sustainable development.
Dr. Wolfgang STARK, Ariane HAGL / Universities of the Future – CoCreating Transformative Relations between Students and Communities
Abstract:
Based on a two-year process of designing the idea of future universities based on transformative projects between students and communities, a group of university leaders, teachers and community activists have reflecting on ‘What kind of universities do we need to tackle the challenges of our future’? Results will be paralleled by student´s voices about their ideas of a ‘university of the future’. 25 in-depth interviews with international students have been part of an artistic process to create the idea of the university as a piece of art. Major challenges for ‘universities of the future’, emerging from unique approaches and reflections, will be presented and discussed.
