Abstract

HERNANDEZ VALENZUELA, Mariela; MONARDEZ SANTANDER, Carmen  and  LATORRE CONTRERAS, Patricio. Contribution of an Interdisciplinary Service-learning Pilot Experience to the Common Good in a Chilean Institution. Rev. latinoam. estud. educ. [online]. 2023, vol.53, n.1, pp.73-100.  Epub Oct 02, 2023. ISSN 2448-878X.  https://doi.org/10.48102/rlee.2023.53.1.540.

Considering the multidimensional nature of social phenomena, the demands for training professionals, and the importance of contributing to social welfare through educational processes, the objective of this article is to analyze the development of an interdisciplinary Service-Learning pilot experience in a Chilean higher education institution from its contribution to the local environment and participants experience, which emphasizes the coordination between students, teachers, and the project that enhances the contribution to the community. This action research, from a qualitative approach, had the participation of 127 students, five academics, and 80 inhabitants of a neighborhood organization, and used empathy maps, group interviews, in-depth interviews, and ethnographic records. The results provide information about the contribution of the experience to generate tangible services relevant to the needs identified by the target community, also the contribution to promote the disciplinary learning of students from the careers involved, including their social commitment and critical thinking, highlighting the importance of moving towards interdisciplinarity to address social situations. These findings reinforce the Service-Learning educational achievements, and community participation that prioritizes common goods over individual ones, and analyze potential areas to be approached in future experiences and research.

Keywords : situated learning; higher education; service-learning; collaborative learning; university social responsibility; university-community relationship.