15 years of Implementation of Service-Learning in Higher Education in Croatia – lessons learned

neobjavljeni prilog sa skupa

neobjavljeni prilog sa skupa

15 years of Implementation of Service-Learning in Higher Education in Croatia – lessons learned

Vrsta prilog sa skupa (neobjavljen)
Tip neobjavljeni prilog sa skupa
Godina 2022
Status neobjavljeno

Sažetak

The keynote speech presents the milestones of Service-Learning in Higher Education in Croatia and main obstacles to institutionalization (lack of knowledge and expertise as well as problems with terminology, lack of time and energy to establish partnerships and coordinate logistics related to SL, deficit in financing, national and institutional priorities focused on other areas, lack of internal and external recognition and awards, and lack of a university coordination unit - an office or center for S-L and 3rd mission of the university). The most influential contribution to the development of SL in Croatia was the Call for Proposals (Office for Cooperation with NGOs of the Croatian Government): Support to the Development of Partnerships between CSOs and HEIs for the Implementation of SL Programs (financed by ESF) where only in 2017 27 projects approved and in 2018/2019 - 18 faculties from University of Zagre were partner institutions in SL programs. During projects financed by ESF, HEI teachers were provided with education and support, but this ended in academic year 2019/2020. Unfortunately, most cases ended with piloting of SL (one-semester experience, with a small number of students and ”known” community partners). ESF-funded projects differed in duration, content and approach to educating teachers, community partners and students on SL- great variability in implementation of SL programs. Also, a hyperproduction of SL manuals and toolkits contributed to terminological and methodological confusion.
The current needs are to provide professional support to all university teachers who have started to implement SL programs, to provide initial and additional education to teachers, students and community partners regarding the SL elements that have proved challenging in pilot projects and to ensure uniformity in terminology and methodology to improve interdisciplinary cooperation.

Ključne riječi

service-learning, Croatia