Centre for Service Learning

Introduction

Service-learning at CHRIST (Deemed to be University) was initiated by the Centre for Social Action (CSA), a development action wing of the University, with the assistance of the United Board for Christian Higher Education project.

Service – Learning

Service-learning promotes student participation in community service with academic instruction, focusing on critical, reflective thinking and civic responsibility. The service-learning programme at CHRIST (Deemed to be University) encourages students to work in the community to address community-identified needs while honing their academic skills and commitment to social responsibility practice. Service-learning allows students to capitalize on their cognitive, affective, intuitive, and societal characteristics that differentiate learners from other learners. Through service learning, students are empowered to explore their interests and work towards solving societal problems, employ leadership skills, and examine their sense of justice while investigating authentic community issues and concerns. Interested Deaneries and Departments take up service-learning with an intent to keep the core concept intact while modifying it to suit the department/discipline-specific requirements. Service Learning is practiced by the following departments.i.e, Sociology and Social Work, Psychology, Media Studies, Mathematics, Economics, Professional Studies, Commerce, Business and Management, English and Cultural Studies, Computer Science, School of Education, School of Law and School of Engineering.
Our experience in practicing service-learning reveals that once students get exposure to the social realities and the adverse circumstances faced by the marginalized sections of society, they start contributing their time and resources to support the disadvantaged sections of society.

The Centre for Service Learning will provide experiential learning opportunities to students through a deeper understanding of the community’s needs and help in social, academic, and cognitive development. The community will be the direct beneficiaries of the actions and activities of the Centre for service learning.

Institutions Policy on Service Learning:

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Objectives

To create a positive impact on students’ academic learning and improve students’ ability to apply what they have learned in “the real world.”
To encourage students to reflect by thinking, discussing, and writing about their service experience.
To strengthen essential life skills, such as leadership abilities, self-confidence, critical thinking, group problem solving, and conflict resolution.
To encourage Faculty members and Students to find research-based solutions to the community needs and publish the research findings.
To promote faculty members and students to procure funding from external agencies to conduct community-based participatory research (CBPR)
To partner with foreign universities to facilitate service-learning courses offered by CHRIST (Deemed to be University)

Functions

The Centre will initiate service-learning courses to interested departments. The Centre will provide the required training to implement the service-learning Programs of the Department
The Centre will review the existing service-learning departments and suggest measures to strengthen the course/ Program
The Centre will help departments in developing curriculum
The Centre will organise conferences /Seminars to disseminate knowledge on service learning.
The Centre will invite eminent speakers from the national and international arena to discuss the best practices in service learning.
The Centre will invite proposals for community development and social engagement regularly.