Adopting Service Learning in Universities around the World

U08 2

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Abstract

In the United States service-learning has proven to be an effective means both for education and for community development. It seems logical to assume that service- learning would be similarly effective in other countries. However, universities in other countries operate quite differently from universities in the U.S. Discussions with professors from the former Soviet Union and Southeast Europe produced a list of obstacles to transferring service-learning to other countries. The paper suggests some ways to reduce the obstacles. As service-learning is implemented in universities around the world, universities will probably change their methods of operation to permit the use of this effective teaching method.