Uniservitate Award 2024

Solidarity Service-Learning in Catholic Higher Education

The Uniservitate Award is a global recognition of the best solidarity service-learning experiences in Catholic Higher Education. It is based on the assertion of the Global Compact on Education: “The true service of education is education to service”.
The Award is open to Catholic Higher Education Institutions, whether university or non-university, with a track record in projects, projects, practices, courses or institutional programmes involving solidarity service. These initiatives actively engage students as leaders within the community, intentionally integrating with curriculum contents and research programmes.
Organized biennially, the Award carries a total prize fund of €84,000, distributed across awards and special mentions in each of the seven regions encompassing Uniservitate. Selection of winning experiences involves a rigorous process with multiple stages and diverse panels of judges.
In the inaugural edition in 2022, 28 experiences were awarded out of the 200 submissions from educational institutions globally. The recipients were presented with the award during the III Global Symposium held in Rome in October 2022, travelling as part of the Uniservitate Award.
The second edition, scheduled for 2024, will also include as a prize an opportunity for the winners to travel and participate in the V Global Symposium in November in Rome, Italy.

The Award objectives are the following:

  • Show and highlight the SL experiences that connect teaching, research and social projection in line with the primary mission of the CHEIs, combining science and faith, academic excellence and the tangible testimony of an Institution engaged with the community.
  • Acknowledge and make visible the CHEIs that excel in including academic learning in solidarity service to the community.
  • Showcase the SSL experiences within Catholic Higher Education to contribute to their promotion, replication throughout the system, and widespread dissemination.
  • Systematize the contributions of the SSL experiences to enhance SSL knowledge and its institutionalization and inclusion in the transforming spiritual dimension.
  • Strengthen networks between Higher Education institutions and various civil society, governmental, community or private organizations, etc.
  • Contribute to the training of professionals who understand the community’s needs and are committed to building a fairer, more fraternal and caring society.

Winners 2024 by region

SSL winner experiences

Hub: Africa

Country: Kenya

Project Name: Unlocking Prison Boundaries: Service-Learning Psychosocial Support to Prison Officers in Kenya

Students from (Degree, University): Psychology department, Tangaza University

Course and person in charge: Psychology   Mary Ngina

SLL activities: Psychosocial Support programme areas implemented at Langata Women’s Prison and Kamiti Men’s maximum prisons. Students provided counselling and shared mental health and well-being strategies to master the officers’ challenging work environment.

Learning objectives of the experience:  Acquisition of basic counselling skills, e.g. behaviour and personal qualities required to deal with patients, and transition from a student to a professional counsellor.

Effect on students and community: Students could apply the theories and techniques learned in class to the counselling service for officers. The officers pointed out the positive impact this experience has had on them, such as great personal development in their relationships with colleagues and especially with inmates and a greater ability to listen and empathise.

Hub: Africa

Country: Kenya

Project Name: Digital Innovative Skills Hub (DISH)

Students from (Degree, University): Education, Arts and Ciencias Sociales, Tangaza University

Course and person in charge: Education/outreach programme. Timothy Kabare and Reginald Nalugala

SLL activities: It is a quality online education programme aimed at marginalized groups, especially refugees from other African countries hosted in Kakuma Refugee Camp (Turkana, Kenya), providing them with experience and skills that foster self-reliance, knowledge of their rights and peaceful coexistence.

Learning objectives of the experience:  Learning self-help techniques to cope with traumatic experiences.

Effect on students and community: Following this programme, most participants got job opportunities as community health promoters, peace ambassadors, and teachers in the area’s schools.

Honourable mentions:

Hub: Africa
Country: Tanzania
Project Name: Never drop the microphone
Students from: Faculty of Science, Mweenge Catholic University
Course and person in charge: Master of Sciencie with Education. Buzinza Ndokeji
The aim was empowering youth toward self-determination (identifying and use their talents, abilities and potentials) so as to reach their goals and raise awareness on the alarming impacts of climate change. This included concerts, conferences, seminars, workshops and radio programmes, among other initiatives.
Learning objectives of the experience: Acquisition of technical and professional skills related to renewable energy technologies, sustainable agriculture, green building or environmental conservation. Improvement of social skills, such as communication, teamwork, leadership and project development.
Effect on students and community: Community awareness and participation, behaviour and lifestyle changes, community-based initiatives and innovations.

Hub: Africa
Country: Uganda
Project Name: Bulungi Bwansi Community Campaign
Students from: Business Studies. University of Kisubi
Course and person in charge: Business Administration and Management. Martín Luke Ssenyange Zziwa
Guidance and support to environmental conservation and protection initiatives.
Learning objectives of the experience: Students developed strategies to address community-based environmental problems, coordinated with stakeholders and engaged with community members and local leaders.
Effect on students and community: The activity encouraged and inspired community members to participate in the “Green Tree” service-learning campaign, while developing in the students a strong sense of environmental and community ethical responsibility. The trees planted under the Service Learning Tree Green Campaign significantly contributed towards the beautification of the University campus and are already making a positive impact on the environment, whereas the visit to the Bakateyamba Good Samaritan Home for the elderly cheered the residents in the spirit of solidarity.

Hub: Asia & Oceania

Country: Australia

Project Name: Thomas More Law School (TMLS) pro bono legal service and education programme

Students from (Degree, University): Law School, Australian Catholic University

Course and person in charge: Ian Lam

SLL activities: Students across three major Australian cities provide supervised legal services to individuals and communities experiencing disadvantage, applying knowledge acquired at university. The programme began with the inception of TMLS in 2014 and was restructured in 2021.

Learning objectives of the experience:  In addition to gaining experience working with clients, supervisors and other stakeholders, students engage with disadvantaged people and understand the need for pro bono legal services. ‘Pro bono‘ comes from the Latin expression, meaning ‘for the public good’.

Effect on students and community: Through this programme, working in partnership with community and specialised law centres and other non-profit institutions, students contribute approximately 20,000 hours of pro bono services on different issues each year.

More information:

Hub: Asia & Oceania

Country: Philippines

Project Name: MAGKASAPI (MAGkasamang KAunlaran SA Pag-aaral at Paglalarong Intelektwal).

Students from (Degree, University): Business School, De La Salle University

Course and person in charge: Corporate Social Responsibility and Governance. Angelique Blasa-Cheng and Karol Jim Louis Castillo

SLL activities: An educational experience on disaster risk reduction and fire prevention, equipping the Iloilo community with a skillset of gamification.

Learning objectives of the experience:  The students designed, created and produced gamified board games related to different disciplines, which allowed them to develop new designs according to the children’s evolving learning requirements.

Effect on students and community: The students claimed that this experience helped them appreciate the importance of the SDGs and Catholic teachings and that it will be useful for their lives and academic path outside the university. The participants learned relevant knowledge and skills and continued the project on their own.

Honourable mentions:

Hub: Asia & Oceania
Country: Philippines
Project Name: Project BANYUHAY
Students from: Development Studies. Ateneo de Manila University.
Course and person in charge: Community Development and Social Change; SocSc 13: The Economy, Society, and Sustainable Development; and DEV 107: Project Management Mark Anthony Abenir
A Series of Capacity-building workshops to empower the UGNAYIN indigenous youth network digitally.
Learning objectives of the experience: The project improve the students’ digital storytelling and communication skills. They learned to combine traditional knowledge with modern platforms to promote social justice and environmental stewardship.
Effect on students and community: Students improved their skills in complex project management, critical thinking and strategic planning skills, essential for any future project manager or consultant. The project also played a key role in raising cultural awareness and understanding among indigenous and non-indigenous audiences.

Hub: Asia & Oceania
Country: Philippines
Project Name: KaTUWang Program
Students from: Psychology. University of San Agustín
Course and person in charge: Behavioral Sciences. Shella Marcela Villanueva and Ara Bella Nersoa Pielago.
Students immerse themselves in various high school teen centres within the Iloilo Province to conduct adolescent mental health programmes and advocacies as well as peer helper training and mentoring. “Katuwang” means partner in Filipino and “tuwa” translates as joy or happiness, something its organizers say refers to the type of engagement. It started in 2022.
Learning objectives of the experience: As reflected in their experiences and reflections, the students could appreciate the challenges that adolescents face in real life when it comes to their mental health, which are highly correlated to their own personal experiences.
Effect on students and community: Adolescents learned to cope with their mental health issues with the guidance of psychology students and other mental health experts who were invited to participate in the initiated activities.

Hub: CEE & ME

Country: Poland

Project Name: Bacteria antibiotic resistance: a global challenge – local action

Students from (Degree, University): Chemistry, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Poland

Course and person in charge: Student scientific club activity. Ilona Sadok and Rafal Lopucki’s

SLL activities: The youth analyzed the presence of antibiotic-resistant samples from 33 public playgrounds located in the city of Lublin (Poland). They collected swabs from playground equipment and sand from sandboxes.

Understanding the relationship between scientific activities and social needs and expectations, developing a work ethic aligned with the service-learning principles, learning new bio-chemical testing techniques, improving practical skills, engaging with the team’s objective, learning project management methodologies, etc.

Students learned a new technique to identify bacterial contamination in samples collected from playgrounds, analysed those samples themselves and learned to interpret the data collected.

Effect on students and community:  They have acquired new skills to assess antibiotic-resistant bacteria. They have also learned to work in teams, to take responsibility for the results obtained, and to show scientific integrity and credibility.

The project attracted local and national media attention, and its results were noted by state agencies, which are planning to conduct a joint campaign with the University to disseminate the results in public spaces in Lublin.

More information:

Hub: CEE & ME

Country: Germany

Project Name: Language promotion in primary school

Students from (Degree, University): Faculty of Languages and Literatures, Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt

Course and person in charge: German Studies   Kristina Löblein

SLL activities: During one academic term, students provide language support classes for groups of children with German as a second language in different elementary schools in the region of Eichstätt. Those children are usually under 11 years old and come from migrant or refugee families living in vulnerable communities.

Learning objectives of the experience:  Professionalization of one’s teaching actions concerning social responsibility towards the underprivileged and vulnerable members of society.

Effect on students and community:

Students can plan meaningful support classes quicker each week as the semester progresses. They increase their knowledge of appropriate planning and methods. In addition, oral productions are increasingly of a higher quality. In turn, the children improve their marks in German and participate much more effectively in classroom activities, while their parents often appreciate the need to learn the German language themselves. The University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt and its students are increasingly seen in the region as a valuable resource in language promotion and educational justice.

Honourable mentions:

Hub: Central and Eastern Europe/ Middle East:
Country: Germany
Project Name: Awareness. Pastoral Care in the Festival and Events
Students from: School of Transformation and Sustainability. Catholic University Eichstätt-Ingolstadt
Course and person in charge: Simón Birkel
It focuses on integrating pastoral care at festivals seeking to provide discreet support to the young people attending the events, offering proximity and reassurance. Students interact with peers from varied social and cultural backgrounds. The accompanying research, including interviews, sheds light on important and pertinent developments within these spheres.
Learning objectives of the experience: Ability to recognize the complex mechanisms of event design in the youth sector Method: project planning and implementation, to observe and analyze the significance of celebration culture for the youth and school pastoral field and to apply youth ministry working methods and to present them in an aesthetically and addressee-orientated manner.
Effect on students and community: Personal and skills development for their professional and personal future, such as empathy and innovation, mindfulness, enthusiasm, trust and collaboration.

Hub: Central and Eastern Europe/ Middle East:
Country: Palestine
Project Name: Bridging the Local with the Global: Fostering Global Mindsets and Sustainability through Local Action and Community Engagement
Students from: Department of English and Communication. Bethlehem University.
Course and person in charge: Ramzi Asali and Rubba Ayyad
A new paradigm primarily focused on teaching English literature and linguistics courses, featuring a communication pathway aimed at enhancing students’ technical and social skills in interpersonal, organizational, and mass communication. The thematic focus of our service-learning pilot is “Global Citizenship, Sustainability, and Service Learning.” It starte in Spring 2023 and, due to the Gaza war, there was a transition to online learning.
Learning objectives of the experience: Equiping students with advocacys skills for promoting social change; effective communication for advocacy campaings; enhancing capacity building by partnering with local and international organizations, alongside students’ abilities as leaders and to work collaboratively; empowering Palestinian Youth drive positive social change. Conducting properly needs assessment; ability to plan and deliver effective training sessions; improved critical thinking and problem-solving skills; enhanced students’ soft and technical skills to capitalize on technology for social change.
Effect on students and community: A pre-post test study on field-based projects showed a positive change in raising awareness of the issues addressed in those projects, particularly concerning the SDGs. Focus group discussions involving a cross-section of beneficiaries reaffirmed the positive change. In digital campaigns, feedback and content analysis of comments showed a positive response to these campaigns.

Hub: LAC  

Country: Colombia

Project Name: Revelando Realidades: La exclusión silenciada de la comunidad afrodescendiente en Tierra Bomba, Cartagena, Colombia. [Revealing Realities: The Silenced Exclusion of the Afrodescendant Community in Tierra Bomba, Cartagena, Colombia]

Students from (Degree, University): Architecture, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana.

Course and person in charge: Proyecto Nuevos Territorios [New Territories Project]. Carlos Alberto Hernández Correa and José Luis Bucheli Agualimpia.

SLL activities: The students researched the problems caused by the lack of drinking water, which is considered the main form of exclusion, and, through discussions with residents, developed architecture and urban planning proposals reflecting the community’s expectations and needs.

Learning objectives of the experience:  Applying knowledge in practice, developing research skills, joint work, cultural and social awareness, emphasis on ethics and social responsibility, and developing leadership skills.

Effect on students and community:   Students improved their academic knowledge and developed key professional competencies, enabling them to face real-world challenges in their future careers. In the community, there were improvements in access to safe water, quality housing, enhanced community resilience and social ties, local resources and mutual support systems.

More information:

Hub: LAC

Country: Mexico

Project Name: Proyecto de Aplicación Profesional (PAP) ‘San Pedro Valencia’ [Professional Application Project (PAP) ‘San Pedro Valencia’]

Students from (Degree, University): ITESO (Western Institute of Technology and Higher Education), Universidad Jesuita de Guadalajara

Course and person in charge: PAP ‘San Pedro Valencia’. Héctor Morales Gil de la Torre

SLL activities: It started in 2015 to address a socio-environmental crisis caused by pollution from the De Hurtado Dam in response to a request from the people of San Pedro Valencia. Numerous water and waste management actions have been promoted, as well as awareness-raising and education on the preservation and recovery of ecosystems, alongside the livelihoods of the affected population. The University currently works with 13 locations in the Salado River sub-basin whose ecosystems were affected. Professional Application Projects (PAPs) are project-based learning experiences.

Learning objectives of the experience:  Professional knowledge of water management as a result of specific projects and knowledge of socio-professional project management and the development of work skills.

Effect on students and community: Students gain experience analysing regional problems and encouraging social dialogue to produce and preserve environmental goods. Between 2021 and 2024, the PAPs had a strong positive effect on the community since, among other things, they provided the participating organizations with means to identify the problems of the common goods in their territories, promoted their interaction with networks of related institutions and improved their capacities for self-governance.

More information:

Honourable mentions:

Hub: Latin America and The Caribbean
Country: Chile
Project Name: Proyecto Aprendizaje + Servico en el Internado Medicina Familiar [Service-Learning Project at the Family Medicine Internship]
Students from: School of Medicine. Pontifical Catholic University of Chile
Course and person in charge: Family Medicine Internship. Pamela Rojas González.
Each new group of students joining the course is responsible for conducting an SSL project carried out in any of the three Family Health Centres where the students do their internship in family medicine. The centres are located in the districts of Puente Alto and La Pintana. These are in low-income and highly vulnerable communities, with a registered population of more than 60,000 people distributed in the three centres.
Learning objectives of the experience: These activities provide students with additional skills to enhance their clinical training. Special emphasis is placed on: design and evaluation of research projects; clinical and administration management; critical analysis of the bibliography; design and implementation of educational strategies; and teamwork-related attitude and procedural skills.
Effect on students and community: The latest formal evaluation showed that 100% of the partners surveyed rated positively the work and products delivered, describing them as ‘good-quality projects’, ‘reliable products’ and ‘a real asset’.

Hub: Latin America and The Caribbean
Country: Colombia
Project Name: Apoyo técnico a Acueductos Comunitarios del Suroccidente colombiano [Technical Support to Community Aqueducts in the Southwest of Colombia]
Students from: Civil Engineering and Biology. Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali
Course and person in charge: César Camilo Cañón Barriga
Three case studies addressing community well-being and environmental sustainability in the regions of Cauca and the northern part of Valle del Cauca were addressed. The project presented integral solutions to optimize the aqueduct system of the Huasanó rural community, analysed the problems affecting the operation of a fish-farming programme promoted by a cooperative of demobilized combatants in the peace process between the FARC-EP and the Colombian Government in Silvia, Cauca, and supported the aqueduct of Restrepo.
Learning objectives of the experience: Students’ and professor Camilo Cañón’s accounts highlight that the project allowed them to apply theoretical knowledge to complex practical situations, developing key skills including design, planning, teamwork, contingency management, engineering approach, among other valuable professional competencies.
Effect on students and community: Regarding the social aspect, the initiative acquired a great relevance as it had a positive impact on vulnerable communities and contributed to consolidating regional peace. In some cases, the initiative became a viable economic alternative for demobilised families, reducing the risk of recidivism in the armed conflict.

Hub: USA and Canada

Country: USA

Project Name: Uniting Heart Initiative

Students from (Degree, University): Faculty of Public Relations, Sacred Heart University (SHU)

Course and person in charge: Advertising and Public Relations Campaigns   Dr Mark

SLL activities: In Spring 2021, the initiative kicked off to engage students from communication, Public Relations, and Advertising (SCPRA) major in global projects that address critical social justice issues. Each semester, the initiative focuses on a different theme, ranging from promoting democratic engagement and financial literacy to enhancing cultural inclusion and solidarity.

Learning objectives of the experience:  Student’s academic and professional preparation, alongside their project management and event coordination skills, were significantly improved.

Effect on students and community: This initiative not only prepares students for professional success but also molds them into engaged, knowledgeable citizens ready to contribute to a more just and humane world. In terms of community impact, the structured approach of the initiative and the specific issues have led to significant change, empowering people and promoting a more informed and inclusive citizenry.

More information:

Hub: USA and Canada

Country: USA

Project Name: Welcoming the Dear Neighbor

Students from (Degree, University): Office of Scholarly Engagement, Universidad St.   Catherine.

Course and person in charge: The Reflective Woman. D´Ann Lesch

SLL activities: Racial covenants are clauses that prevent people who are not white from buying or occupying land.

Learning objectives of the experience:  Research and communication skills; production of evidence of systemic racism; knowledge about the importance of community-building efforts; a deeper understanding of housing inequity.

Effect on students and community: Students indicated this experience contributed to their understanding of social justice and encouraged them to explore their values, beliefs, and views of the world. It also broadened their knowledge of Twin Cities communities and organizations. A “Mapping Prejudice Project” was done identifying the presence of such covenants and educating for action. The community stated that thanks to this experience, more members joined in the activities aimed at bringing about change on social justice issues.

More information:

Honourable mentions:

Hub: The United States of America and Canada

Country: USA

Project Name: Essential Values of Diversity & Multiculturalism and Social Justice Program.

Students from: Mission and Ministry, Philosophy Emmanuel College

Course and person in charge: Catholic Social Teaching. Federico Cinocca

All students are required to complete four courses with an interdisciplinary approach. They visit experiences requiring attention and hospitality resources for people in different vulnerable situations (refugees, homeless people, people with no medical care, etc.) in their own city and other African countries to which they travel especially. In class, students reconsider their experiences in the light of interdisciplinary knowledge and the Social Doctrine of the Church.

Learning objectives of the experience: Students have a better understanding of the social, legal and economic determinants of injustice; they get to know and engage with social movements that advocate for change.

Effect on students and community: 79% of graduates in 2023 regard their experience with community service groups during their degree as having contributed ‘a great deal’ or ‘quite a lot’ to their education and personal growth. Many were motivated to develop their own social justice and service organizations or focus their careers on social justice.

 

Hub: The United States of America and Canada

Country: USA

Project Name: Health Equity Fellows

Students from: Fitz Center for Leadership in Community. University of Dayton

Course and person in charge: Moses Mbeseha

The programme provides health formation and outcomes from an equity lens, and explicitly centering its work on black and brown communities in Montgomery County, Ohio.

Learning objectives of the experience: Increase understanding of health equity and the structure upholding health and its social determinants.

Effect on students and community: As students move on to their professional lives, they are part of generating a sustainable, equity-minded health workforce.

Hub: WEN

Country: Belgium

Project Name: Surviving Memory in Postwar El Salvador

Students from (Degree, University): Faculty of architecturem, KU Leuven, Belgium

Course and person in charge: Surviving Memory in Postwar El Salvador. Harold Fallon and Edgar Alexander

SLL activities: In collaboration with Universidad Centroamericana José Simeón Cañas (UCA), El Salvador. The experience focuses on the investigation and the architectural design of the accounts of El Salvador’s civil war (1980-1982). It is part of an international collaborative research project monitored by Asociación Sumpul, a non-profit organization of El Salvador survivors. The primary goal is to support the initial stages of architectural or artistic projects led by Asociación Sumpul, providing a platform for survivors and communities to share their experiences and create materials for exhibitions and publications.

Learning objectives of the experience: There was evidence of improvement both in academic learning and professional skills among students, such as recognizing territories linked to the country’s historical memory, dealing with multidisciplinary and sensitive contexts, improving the quality of their research processes, managing budgets and generating more inclusive and clearly structured products.

Effect on students and community: This project helped students develop an acute awareness of the social impact of architectural design, particularly in community-based environments, enriching their academic and professional growth. In turn, community members changed their understanding of ongoing projects, such as the one linked to the preservation of the Casa de la Memoria in San José Las Flores (built in 1986) rather than replacing it with a new building. This change in understanding is crucial for the long-term design process and for developing an appropriate approach to architectural projects in the communities.

More information: https://www.elsalvadormemory.org/

Hub: WEN

Country: Belgium

Project Name: Anthropology of hospitality and migration politics/ Anthropology of communication and disability

Students from (Degree, University): Infomation and Communication and Political Sciences, Unamur (Université de Namur)

Course and person in charge: Anthropology of hospitality and migration politics. Natalie Rigaux and Amélie Pierre

SLL activities: Students work in two experiences to welcome or integrate people in vulnerable situations, whether migrants, people with disabilities, refugees or undocumented migrants.

Learning objectives of the experience: Listening and communication skills.

Effect on students and community: Students are open to the world and concerned to contribute to greater social justice for the most vulnerable. There has been an increased number of meetings between vulnerable groups and young people who seek to respect differences.

Honourable mentions:

Hub: Western Europe North

Country: France

Project Name: Service Learning Law Bus

Students from: Law. Catholic University of Lille

Course and person in charge: Legal Clinic – Service Learning. Antoine Six and Caroline Delabre.

Two times per week, students specializing in Human Rights from the Law Faculty travel to Calais aboard the Law Bus to engage with migrants and offer legal assistance. This initiative is conducted in collaboration with lawyers and volunteers from the Cimade Association, who specialize in immigration law and procedures.

Learning objective of the experience: Academic knowledge of law has been reinforced by immersing students directly in real-world scenarios.

Effect on students and community: They honed their communication skills by interacting with clients from diverse backgrounds and effectively conveying legal information in a clear and understandable manner. Moreover, the students enhanced their teamwork and collaboration skills through their interactions with fellow volunteers.

 

Hub: Western Europe North

Country: Belgium

Project Name: Stronger networks, stronger clients and organizations, stronger (future) social educational care workers: everyone wins

Students from: University of Applied Sciences and Arts “Karel de Grote Hogeschool Antwerpen” (KdG)

Course and person in charge: Kathleen Van Loon and An Van Uytven

Course unit seeking to strengthen networking with clients and organizations.

Learning objectives of the experience: It is possible to get an overview on the subsystems around the client.

Hub: WES

Country: Portugal

Project Name: Care(elder)ful

Students from (Degree, University): Social Services of the Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences, Universidade Católica Portuguesa

Course and person in charge: Contemporary Social Work. Catarina Vieira da Silva

SLL activities: The initiative focuses on services provided by the students to the population aged 65 and above, in collaboration with the Social Center of Irmandade of S. Torcato, where there is a home for the elderly and a Day Center.

Learning objectives of the experience: Development of empathy, communication and leadership skills; learning about responsibility and understanding the individual needs of the elderly individuals; and personal growth and civic engagement.

Effect on students and community: The students have observed a positive result in their academic training and reflective capacity. Some students continued their studies for the Master’s degree in Gerontological Social Work, inspired by their engagement with issues related to ageing. The project triggered a paper currently developed by a PhD student under the TESTEd project and fostered new initiatives (conferences, research projects, visits to institutions and new protocols), raising more positive attention to learning about the elderly and services.

More information:

Hub: WES

Country: Spain

Project Name: SQUEEZE&LIF: Impacto social de un programa de concienciación sobre la salud pélvica para mujeres migrantes [Social impact of a pelvic-health awareness programme for migrant women]

Students from (Degree, University): Centro Universitario San Rafael

Course and person in charge: Physiotherapy, María de Cortés Simarro-González and Marta Benito-Miguel

SLL activities: Physiotherapy students provide holistic and humanized assistance to migrant women and contribute to designing the pelvic-health awareness programme, run workshops and collaborate in developing educational content.

Learning objectives of the experience:  Furthering pelvic-health awareness, presentation and teaching skills, communication skills practice, and group facilitation. Educational content design skills, adaptation of digital tools for health education, and understanding the importance of accessibility and media diversity.

Effect on students and community: The students have strengthened their engagement and collaboration, adaptation and response skills to the demands of the environment, and consolidation of teamwork dynamics. There is an increased awareness of pelvic health in the benefitted community, leading migrant women to seek more medical care and better manage their health; empowerment and informed decision-making; and strengthened community collaboration.

More information: https://www.sanrafaelnebrija.com/actualidad/noticias/1166/arrancan-los-proyectos-de-aprendizaje-y-servicio

Honourable mentions:

Hub: Western Europe South

Country: Italy

Project Name: Narrating development, weaving identity.

Students from: Education. Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore

Course and person in charge: Moral Philosophy, Theory of the Person and the Community, Ethics of Relations in Economy. Alessandra Gerolín.

The experience consists in accompanying women, who live a state of fragility (mainly victims of slave trading) and who are now involved in a project of Caritas. Students help women to become aware of their human value and the value of their path of empowerment which aim is not just to learn a job and improve skills, but to flourish as human beings.

Learning objectives of the experience: Students learn reciprocity and mutuality: sharing time, knowledge and skills engenders an experience of gratuity and personal enrichment. They learn that growing is not enough, because human beings need to develop and to flourish and that economy is the practice of taking care of the household. This means to create or support a network of relationships within civil society.

Effect on students and community: Students had the opportunity not just to put in practice what they have learned during the courses, but to live with the women an experience of real development. Women told to the academic community the importance of being recognized by students for their value, which is more decisive than the wounds suffered.

 

Hub: Western Europe South

Country: Spain

Project Name: El aprendizaje-servicio en los grados de Educación Infantil y Educación Primaria: un compromiso entre la universidad y los agentes sociales [Service-learning in early childhood and primary education degrees: engagement between the university and social agents]

Students from: Primary Education. Centro Universitario Sagrada Familia

Course and person in charge:  José Hidalgo Navarrete

Seeking inclusion, work focuses on students with specific educational support needs.

Learning objectives of the experience: Identification and plan to address educational situations affecting students with different abilities and different learning processes; Understanding the characteristics of these students as well as the nature of their motivational and social contexts. Encourage collaborative work as well as individual work and effort.

Effect on students and community: There have been improvements in academic, social and communication skills in the groups of students involved in the internships. A significant expansion of collaboration areas, a greater number of social agents involved and new projects have been identified.

Award ceremonies:

The winners will receive the following prizes:

For each of the seven regions mentioned above

  • 2 (two) FIRST PRIZES of 5,000 Euros each.
  • In addition, 1 (one) coordinating teacher and 1 (one) student will be selected to participate in the V Uniservitate Symposium in Rome (Italy) from 6 to 10 November 2024.
  • 2 (two) HONOURABLE MENTIONS of 1.000 euros each.

Juries by region:

These were the Uniservitate Award 2022 winners