Bult - University of the Free State

Studente Students
Service-learning helps to prepare students for life
By Leatitia Pienaar
“If the educational system wishes to do justice to
the unique South African multicultural situation, it
should focus on developing culturally sensitive and
civic minded individuals,” says Dr Luzelle Naudé in
her doctoral study on the value of service learning in
preparing students for life outside the academic world.
“Multiracial, interactive refl ection activities during
service learning experiences may provide an
opportunity to openly and safely discuss racial
issues in order to facilitate maximal learning and
development with regard to the cultural sensitivity and
civic responsibility of our students.” Service Learning
(SL) is an internationally recognised mechanism that
promotes the integration of service with teaching and
learning. At the UFS Service Learning is fully integrated
with curricula and we are a leader in this fi eld in South
Africa.
Dr Naudé says in response to the challenges facing
South African higher education institutions in the 21st
century, the call for developing holistic and civic minded
individuals who can contribute to a democratic South
Africa, is heard louder than ever before. Emphasis is
placed on the shaping of citizens with the ability to
refl ect and interact with the world in order to transform
it. In this regard, educational transformation (including
innovations such as SL) is imperative.
Dr Naudé says the study found that a combination
of group and individual refl ective activities resulted
in a greater amount of change and development in
students. Stereotypes are challenged during face
to face human encounters. Service Learning gives
students the opportunity to interact and communicate
with culturally diverse people, and therefore provides
an environment conducive to the development of
intercultural skills and reduced stereotypes.
SL results in a greater amount of cultural sensitivity
and universal orientation. This concurs with the
African philosophy of education idea that the
willingness to enter into discourse goes hand
in hand with the acknowledgement of the
possibility that, together, a new truth or
understanding can be reached. It is thus
clear that the collaborative nature of
SL facilitates a move towards seeing
others as partners, towards a broader
understanding of social issues, and
towards a consideration of larger
historical, social and economic
implications – all aspects of a more
universal orientation to life.
Everyone is giving a hand. Service learning is also expanding horizons
for the participating students.
We all win
Here are what some students had
to say about their service-learning
experiences.
The one big thing I learned is to
listen more and talk less. I am
very grateful for this process.
At first we were quite nervous…
All and all we were quite a
stressed up bunch… At our first
meeting the whole mood just
suddenly changed, we saw in
each other a will to work hard,
put in that extra effort, strive to do
better, go further and a willingness
and eagerness to work together
and become friends. Things just
got better from there… We didn’t
even think about the fact that we
spent more than twenty hours
trapped in the library, no we just
had fun!
This module should be
compulsory – we need to know
how to work with people as public
servants.
It was interesting, I realised things
about the community that I didn’t
know before. It opened my eyes
and I realised how important
effective communication is.
It changed me, working with the
community. It gave me a different
perspective. It gave me conviction
and reinforced my personal
convictions.
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