Information for Lecturers

What does Service-Learning mean?

As an educational method, Service-Learning offers an opportunity to teach content in a different way than in traditional courses. Its project-based and practice-oriented format gives students the chance to respond scientifically to the real needs of society, and at the same time to engage in important reflection on the purpose of gaining knowledge and skills. It is an exemplary way of implementing one of the requirements of the Bologna reform, that is, to increase students’ abilities to apply science in society responsibly. The more relevant and effective students find their own actions to be, the greater their motivation and as a result their success in their studies tend to be as well.

Service-Learning with an international dimension

The well-established Service-Learning concept has been expanded to include an international dimension within the framework of the CIVIS project, which involves nine other European universities alongside the University of Tübingen. You are invited to combine practical and socially-oriented projects with international teaching in relation to the five major challenges of (1) Health, (2) Cities, Territories and Mobilities, (3) Digital and Technological Transformation, (4) Climate, Environment and Energy, (5) Society, Culture, Heritage. Exchange ideas with international students and network with European colleagues. Courses in English and other languages are very welcome!

What we offer

We are happy to provide personal advice and support for questions relating to (educational) planning and for the realization of Service-Learning projects; we can also establish contacts with community partners. You can contact us by email or telephone at any time. In the program of the Higher Education Training, we routinely offer workshops on the topic of service-learning, in which you can develop your own scenarios.
If you would like to familiarize yourself with the topic in advance or if you would like to look something up, you can choose from our media according to your personal preferences. You will find them for download or as a redirect in the right-hand column in each case:

The roadmap for planning a Service-Learning class provides a compact overview of the necessary steps and processes before, during and after a Service-Learning class.
Our brochure "Integrating Civic Engagement into Academia - Service-Learning at the University of Tübingen" introduces the concept and possible forms of service-learning courses. It also gives you an overview of the process of planning and implementing your own concept.
The publicly accessible and self-managed online course "Service-Learning: A Guideline for Lecturers" offers detailed information on designing your own service-learning class, practical advice on planning and implementation, such as time horizons or concrete reflection exercises, as well as tips for in-depth reading.

Upcoming Workshops

Service-Learning at an International Level - HDZ
Nov. 11. - 14, 2024, asynchronous phase via ILIAS
Nov. 15, 2024, 2 - 6 p.m., synchronous phase (online)

Is your teaching already practice-oriented? Does it connect scientific knowledge with societal needs, and would you like to further strengthen the transfer into practice? Are you interested in adding an international dimension to it as well? Then, our workshop is for you! Service-Learning deliberately combines academic learning and civic engagement. In projects with community partners, students are guided to jointly deal with socially relevant challenges.
The online workshop includes synchronous and asynchronous elements and aims at training lecturers who wish to integrate this form of challenge-based learning into their teaching method. More specifically, it focuses on special aspects of the Service-Learning methodology, the needs for its successful implementation and the inclusion of international dimensions to the project.
Service-Learning scenarios will be developed in the workshop. Therefore, please feel free to bring along your disciplinary or interdisciplinary project ideas!

Learning Objectives
Participants will be able to

recognize objectives and benefits of Service-Learning.
plan their own Service-Learning project.
know the steps of implementation.
identify obstacles and provide alternatives.
cooperate successfully with community partners.
know of different internationalization dimensions.

Content
Participants design a scenario for their own Service-Learning project including the following aspects:

characteristics and objectives of Service-Learning (introductory literature will be provided prior to the workshop)
connecting Service-Learning to the discipline’s contents and learning objectives
methods/tools.

Until October 28, 2024, you can register at the HDZ website.

Previous Workshops

Service-Learning on a European Level - Combining Teaching with Student Civic Engagement - November 2022

On November 25, the annual workshop within the HDZ program took place - this year again online and in English. The one-day workshop included synchronous as well as asynchronous elements and was aimed at lecturers who would like to integrate this form of practice orientation into their teaching methods. In particular, it focused on specific aspects of the Service-Learning methodology and the requirements for its successful implementation. Service-Learning scenarios were developed in the workshop. We are pleased that especially lecturers from the natural sciences attended in large numbers and developed exciting concepts.

“Service-Learning – Combining teaching with student civic engagement” – in October 2022

As part of the symposium "Science meets engagement - service learning in (digitally supported) university teaching", our one-hour, English-language workshop titled "Service-Learning - Combining teaching with student civic engagement" took place. In this short online workshop we provided an insight into the concept behind e-Service-Learning and used interactive online tools. In addition, participants had the opportunity for questions and discussion.

International Digital Teaching series – in April & May 2022

The “International Digital Teaching” series consisted of four different blended learning modules directed towards the same goal, as the name of the series suggests. The topics were: 1. What can digital teaching formats look like in an international context? Questions and Potential, 2. Civic Engagement through Service-Learning – added value and challenges, 3. English and more - multilingualism in courses and 4. Collegial exchange round: my international course - planning and experiences. During the live sessions our participants had the opportunity to receive tips on what an international digital event, i.e., an educational format designed for higher educational reasons, might look like and how it can be designed. In addition, during the series of workshops results from CIVIS and the associated DAAD-funded projects, Virtual Mobility and Service-Learning were presented. Furthermore, basic steps for a possible future collaboration were taken between all actors involved. After the end of the online sessions, the participants could access our online learning modules offered via ILIAS.

International Service-Learning. Combining teaching with student civic engagement in practice-oriented seminars - March 2021

The one-day workshop aimed at training lecturers, who wished to integrate this form of practice orientation into their seminars. More specifically, it focused on special aspects of the Service-Learning format and the needs for its successful implementation. Suitable Service-Learning scenarios were developed in the workshop.

A resulting Service-Learning seminar "Small Business Management and Emotional Implications of the Pandemic" was successfully offered within the CIVIS Open Labs Tübingen in the winter semester 21/22 in the Transdisciplinary Course Program. Seminar ideas on priority areas such as Health, Climate, Environment and Energy, Society, Cultures and Heritage, Digital and Technological Transitions, Cities, Territories and Transport were welcomed.

Service-Learning und Transfer Lehre: Mit wem kooperieren? Heikle Partner – gute Prozesse? - October 2020

In cooperation with TRAFO-Network

Transfer-oriented teaching implies the cooperation of the universities with partners from the public, private or civil society sector. While the non-profit nature of the partner is a prerequisite for cooperation with Service-Learning, cooperation with companies is also conceivable in the case of transfer-oriented teaching. How are the economic interests of the partners evaluated? Do we need a framework for action in which cooperation in teaching should take place? Or, from the perspective of the university, is the increase in competence of the students or the social impact in the foreground? We discussed these questions in the workshop. In the form of a future workshop, the cornerstones of possible guidelines for successful cooperation were worked out. In addition to two keynote speeches, the basis for discussion was one's own previous experiences or existing guidelines from one's own university or department.

Service-Learning: Combine teaching with student engagement in practical courses - online offer - May 2020

The first online workshop for the introduction and implementation of Service-Learning took place on May 28th, 2021. An example of a Service-Learning seminar idea from the workshop is the concept of Dr. Michael la Corte, MUT, on "Museum Education in the Annual Exhibition: Humbug! Fakes, Forgeries and Missteps of Science", which is described in more detail below. A brief description can be found by clicking on the image.

Through concepts of knowledge, culture and object transfer, the students learn important basics of museum education, project management and curatorial work and at the same time are strengthened in their own abilities to plan their own project ideas. In workshops and guided tours for various target groups, students then communicate basic aspects of the annual exhibition in cooperation with external providers from educational work (VHS, FBS) in a specially designed exhibition room and thus take part in the transfer of knowledge from university to society.

FAQ

How can I integrate Service-Learning in my courses?

Normal module-based courses can often be enhanced to become Service-Learning courses by the addition of a service element. Just ask us how. We can guide you through the process of planning teaching that incorporates Service-Learning and help you find a suitable cooperation partner.

Who provides support and how?

The sub-section Service-Learning and Civic Engagement is happy to support you with educational planning and approaching suitable organizations. We also routinely offer trainings on the topic and provide information material, i.e., a roadmap, a brochure and an online course. Please refer to the right-hand column for the latter three.

Participating faculties / teachers

Department of Biology Christiane Adler
Empirical Cultural Studies Dr. Gesa Ingendahl
Ethnology PD Dr. Sabine Klocke-Daffa
Evangelical Theology
Islamic Theology
IZEW - International Center for Ethics in the Sciences and Humanities Prof. Dr. Thomas Potthast
Catholic Theology
Faculty of Science Prof. Dr. Carla Cederbaum
Refugee Law Clinic "Human Rights Lawe in Practice"
TüSE - Tübingen School of Education Jana Domdey
Transdisciplinary Course Program and Career Service Franziska Müller
ZfM - Center for Media Competence Oliver Lichtwald

Which community partners do you work with?

Among others, we have worked with the following community partners:

Botanischer Garten
Colibri e. V.
FAIRstrickt
Institut français Tübingen
Ohne Rüstung Leben
Refugee Law Clinic "Human Rights Law in Practice"

I’ve got an idea for a Service-Learning course. Whom do I contact?

We love to hear your ideas and suggestions. Please reach out to us via e-mail or phone.