1. Strengthening Relationships between
Campus and Community
Experiences with Service Learning Programmes in Higher Education
Workshop at Building Bridges conference, Cardiff, 28.3.2013
Philip Meyer (philip.meyer@its.uni-augsburg.de)
Medialab, University of Augsburg, Germany

2. Context: Study “Mission Society“
Key terms:
„Civic Education“
„Community Outreach“
„Campus-Community-
Partnerships“
„Service Learning“
„Community-Based
Research“
„Social Entrepreneurship“
 Recent tendency to put emphasis on the importance of civic and
engagement for German Higher education institutions
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3. „More than research and teaching“
• Contest and funding programme to foster the „third mission“ at
German universities (includes especially third [sector] mission)
• Honours universities with new concepts for civic responsibility
• Six of 78 participating universities were selected for funding
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4. The „Augsburg model“
https://www.uni-augsburg.de/projekte/bildung-durch-verantwortung
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5. Mission Statement
• Latin phrase „Scientia et Conscientia“
• „Scientia“ place of knowledge creation and science
• „Conscientia“ place that inherits a „civic conscience“, teaching the
citicen‘s responsible role for community need
• Central aspects for studying in Augsburg
• Individual Responsibility
• Civic Engagement
• Goal: Commited and responsible graduates
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6. Stages of the Augsburg model
• Building up an infrastructure which fits the university goal
• Multiplicity of study programmes (from philosophy to engineering)
• Heterogenous needs of students and teachers
• Necessity of different stages of commitment
• Timeframe: effort students put in a community project
• Connection to curricula Student effort
• Degree of self-organisation 4 One year ~ 500h
3 One semester ~100h
2 One week ~ 40h
1 One day ~ 8h
No. of students: [-------------~1000----------------] [--------~500--------] [--~250---] [~100]
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7. 1 day: event „Social Day“
• Started in the BA programme Global Business Management
• Broadening of the event target group to all students (with help of
sponsoring partners)
• Students do 8 hours of service in local Non-Profit institutions
• Independent from curricula of different disciplines
• Collaboration with the Augsburger voluntary association
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8. 1 week: Do it!-programme
• Initiated by the university‘s Career Service institution
• 40 hours of work for local Non Profits
• Accompanied by workshops to reflect the experiences
• Based on a well-proven Service Learning concept
• Certification of community work (extra qualification)
• No connection to specific curricula
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9. 1 semester: Blended Service Learning seminars
• Online courses at the Virtual Bavarian University (VHB)
• Subject: teaching method „Service Learning“
• Target mostly students of education and pedagogy
• Conception, implementation and evaluation of a course
• Connected with service in a local Non Profit organisation
• Reflection of experiences
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10. 1 semester: Interdisciplinary courses
• Project seminars targeting several disciplines
• Realisation of problem-oriented projects for the local community
• Linking of practical experience with disciplinary learning goals
• Interdisciplinary teamwork
• ECTS points can be accredited
• Workload around 100 hours
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11. More: Certification programme
• Additional qualifiaction for extraordinary civic engagement
• For all students in all faculties
• Consisting of two interdisciplinary service learning courses
• Can in parts be accredited in bachelor/master programmes
• 12 ECTS-points
• Additional: Do it programme and final presentation
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12. More: „Begleitstudium“
• Programm to foster students‘ problem-solving competencies
• Target group: Commited students of all disciplines
• Self-organised project work over several terms
• Can be partly accredtied in freely selectable minors in
bachelor/master programms
• Maximum of 30 ECTS points
• Workload of 300h to 900h
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13. Examples
Game Päd project Fifth Dimension project
• Project „from students for students“ • Student go to middle schools
• Video game literacy for students • Video production
and parents • aspect
• Workshops and trainings
• Media education
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14. Overview of current projects
www.uni-engagiert.de (work in progress)
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15. Topics for discussion
• How do we value it?
What can motivate students and staff to work with the community? How can
certification be done in a fitting, fair and competency-oriented manner?
• How do we sustain it?
How can long-term engagment in the community be achieved? What culture is
needed for a not only task-
• „Credit Points for Fundraising?“
Where is the line and how do universities see their role in the community?
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16. Thank you for your attention!
Philip Meyer (philip.meyer@its.uni-augsburg.de)
Medialab, University of Augsburg, Germany