Social service fosters research-oriented learning

Abstract

In Mexico, social service is a mandatory activity performed by undergraduate students as a requisite for graduation. According to national regulations, the social service is managed by higher education institutions. Through social service (also understood as a service-learning experience), students can apply the knowledge they have acquired to produce a benefit to both society and the state. Social service should be oriented to solving relevant social problems about health, housing, social re-adaptation, immigration, technological development, education etcetera. For higher education institutions, this practice can be embedded in other academic activities like teaching, research and the preservation of culture. An example of a research project supported by social service activities is presented by the author in order to reflect how this particular service learning experience can foster research-oriented learning. More efforts to analyse this possible relationship are needed. This material will be interesting for people studying different ways to approach this particular mode of learning. Download final paper: http://www.theseus.fi/handle/10024/121243