The Uniservitate global network announces the launch of the third edition of the award that seeks to recognise and highlight exemplary solidarity service-learning projects (SSL) developed by Catholic Higher Education Institutions (CHEIS) around the world.
The Uniservitate 2026 Award for ‘Solidarity Service-Learning in Catholic Higher Education’ will award two first prizes of €5,000 and two special mentions of €1,000 for each of the seven regions that make up Uniservitate, with the aim of continuing existing experiences or launching new initiatives. In addition, this edition will include a special prize, also for each region, to recognise the best institutional service-learning programmes. The first prizes will include recognition for a coordinating teacher and a student, who will receive a full grant to participate in the VII Uniservitate Symposium to be held in Rome in November 2026.
All CHEIs—university and non-university—that have developed SSL projects or programmes since January 2021 are eligible to apply. The evaluation will be carried out by service-learning specialists, who will consider, among other aspects, measurable contributions to solving social problems, alignment with the curriculum, student leadership, work with local organisations, and contribution to institutional identity and mission.
Projects will be accepted according to the schedule established by each region, and the winning experiences will be announced between June and September 2026. To participate, you must submit your experience using the online form, which, along with the terms and conditions, will be available at https://www.uniservitate.org (English) or https://www.uniservitate.org/es/ (Spanish). For more information, please write to award@uniservitate.org.}
The official launch will take place in a webinar on 29 January at 9:30 am (Buenos Aires time), which will require prior registration at the following link. The webinar will be recorded so that anyone interested can access the information.
With a global reach, the Award does not promote competition between universities or countries, but rather aims to highlight experiences that can enlighten and inspire other institutions. Following on from the 2022 and 2024 editions, the 2026 call for entries reaffirms sustained growth in both the quantity and quality of the experiences submitted and strengthens Uniservitate’s commitment to promoting good educational practices based on solidarity.