Engaged teaching and learning is a form of Community Engagement at Rhodes University. At RUCE, we promote a particular approach to engaged teaching - service learning. While the approach to service learning may differ slightly in varying contexts, it is an educational approach that challenges the traditional "banking" model of education, critiqued by Paulo Freire. Rhodes University offers support for service learning projects through a short course, a community of practice, funding for projects and connecting academics to potential community partners.

Instead of passively depositing knowledge into students, service learning facilitates an active learning process that merges theory with practical application. This approach enriches the academic and civic development of students. It also fosters a meaningful reconnection between Rhodes University and its Makhanda communities through reciprocal relationships and shared visions for the future. Service learning aims to promote real-world learning experiences that benefit both students and the community at large.

Rhodes University Community Engagement is involved in service learning activities through its various programmes. Notably, Vulindlela partners with Journalism and Media Studies postgraduate Diploma students who work with participants in the programme to create stories about experiences in the programme. Another service learning component is a partnership with the Management Department on Financial Literacy for participants. Another RUCE programme, BuddingQ has blended the learning outcomes for Community Psychology with the service of improving fine motor skills for grade R learners. 

RUCE also promotes service learning through its Community of Practice. The Service Learning Community of Practice is a collective of engaged teaching practitioners across the city who organise and participate in discussions around the experiences, successes and challenges of engaged teaching.

The division is also available to connect academics to identify suitable community partner organisations for service learning activities, orientation workshops to prepare students for their service activities, and provide ethics workshops for staff and students who are going to work in community spaces.

RUCE supports engaged teaching initiatives through the Service Learning Fund, which is funding for engaged teaching projects. interested staff to identify suitable community partner organisations for service learning activities, orientation workshops to prepare students for their service activities, and provide ethics workshops for staff and students who are going to work in community spaces.

Service Learning Resources

• Service Learning and Community Engaged Learning Database
• Service Learning RUConnected Site
• An Introductory Guide to Service Learning
• Community-Based Service Learning short course
• Service Learning Funding 

Contact Thandiswa Nqowana for more information at t.nqowana@ru.ac.za

Last Modified: Wed, 20 Mar 2024 11:44:48 SAST