Community Engagement and service learning
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Dept. of Communtiy Engagement and Service Learning
Community Engagement and Service Learning at the Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies at MUST promotes student learning, development, and civic responsibility through co-curricular and curricular service opportunities. The department offers a Students Community Twining Project (STP) – a weekly community based learning opportunity to all undergraduate students. During STP activities, students work with community around the university to develop and implement development projects. Students are also required to undertake internship placement in a typical work environment. Other service learning opportunities are through subject specific field visits during their course of training. In fulfillment of the mission of the Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies, ‘to provide quality training and research that integrates methodology and practice from more than one discipline in order to holistically address community needs’, aims to:
- Connect FIS students as members of the campus, community, and global society i.e. connect learning, life and community
- Bridge students’ theoretical and practical knowledge through experiential learning opportunities
- Foster critical thinking, problem solving, and multicultural competencies, and
- Empower students to become engaged citizens and agents of social and environmental change
The Department of Community Engagement and Service through the STP programme and departmental research supports students and staff on their journey toward civic engagement by maintaining partnerships with communities around the university; offering community service consultation to individual students, groups, and faculty/staff; and support numerous community development initiatives. The department is also charged with responsibility to develop and implement retooling and in-service training programs.
Skilling Strategies
| Sn. | Strategy | Process | Outcome/skills | Cost and duration | Target group |
| 1. | Interdisciplinary/crosscutting Curriculum (DVS (service course across the university), Communication skills, Interdisciplinary Studies Research Methods, Gender Mainstreaming…) | Team learning – students engagement across disciplines | Team work,
Problem solving Communication skills Critical thinking Flexibility and adaptability Working beyond disciplinary boundaries sensitivity/awareness Critical realism |
As per the specific curricula | All undergraduate in service students |
| 2 | Students-Community Twining Project (Links students to the community and allows them to learn through applying class taught theories into practice ) | Establishing formal linkages between university students and communities
5 hours in the community weekly, supervised by the lecturers Mobilization and utilisation of community resources Formalisation of project with CDOs establishment |
Attitude change
Community mobilisation skills Communication and community mobilisation skills Community mobilisation Team work Analytical skills |
Phased in 2 semesters | All undergraduate students of FIS |
| 3. | Service Learning – Proposal to establish Agricultural Livelihoods and Service Learning Centre | Practical workshops involving students and community
Cottage industry and business incubation Service to the community Short tailor made short courses – apprenticeship Student-farmer attachment Demonstration |
Agricultural entrepreneurship
Business acumen Value addition and commercialisation Community enterprise development |
retooling courses are under development | In-service and out of service
Community members |
Programmes
| Category | Duration | Study time |
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