A form of experiential learning for students and a teaching tool for faculty that purposefully integrates academics and service or community-engaged projects to meet classroom and community goals throughout the semester. As part of their coursework, students partner with community-based organisations, nonprofit organisations, schools, and government agencies as a way to learn the course material.

Community service can be performed at any time for any reason. Although meaningful community service often leads to transformative learning, this connection becomes explicit in service-learning, where service activities are embedded within academic learning and are meant to help students to achieve specific learning objectives. Service-learning emphasizes mutuality. All students in service-learning should benefit, learn and grow from the experience. Service learning also emphasizes critical reflection on conditions which create the need for various types of community service.

Service-learning can be integrated into any courses in any discipline at any academic year. We suggest designing tailor service-learning activities to designated learning objectives in the class. Meanwhile, it is also important to clearly identify the course’s service objectives.

Examples of Service-Learning Activities

Service-learning has received enthusiastic support from university management level and college offices because it provides value for students, faculty and the community. Service-learning is a high-impact educational practice, which research has suggested increase rates of student retention and student engagement, and is a part of the university’s objective in the CUHK 2025 strategic plan.