As part of the third call for entries for the Uniservitate Award 2026, the webinar “Key Elements for Building Quality Service-Learning” was held, a virtual session designed to support institutions interested in submitting their projects. The event, held on March 26, combined presentations of three award-winning projects from previous editions with analysis by two international experts and members of the Uniservitate Academic Council, Mikel Martínez and Aranzazu Martínez Ordia, who offered specific criteria on what distinguishes the most highly rated initiatives.
The webinar, which can be viewed on Uniservitate’s YouTube channel, provided guidance on future applications and on service-learning in higher education in general: social relevance, pedagogical coherence, active student participation, critical reflection, and institutional outreach.
At the meeting, Sister Mary Ngina from Tangaza University (Kenya), María Cimarro from the San Rafael University Center (Spain), and Professor Jean Pierre Raskin from the University of Leuven (Belgium) shared their interesting experiences with service-learning initiatives.
Sister Ngina presented an initiative providing psychosocial support to prison staff; Maria Cimarro spoke about a programme to improve pelvic health among migrant women; and Jean Pierre Raskin outlined a technological support project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that involves collaboration with students from South African universities.
Following each presentation, the experts highlighted common features that lend strength to the projects. They emphasised the rigorous identification of a genuine social need and the development of the project through dialogue with the community and grounded in evidence. They also stressed the importance of curriculum integration and the service’s ability to foster meaningful learning.
Another key aspect highlighted was the central role played by students at every stage of the project (assessment, design, implementation and evaluation), as well as the opportunities for reflection that enable the experience to be transformed into meaningful learning.
Finally, the experts emphasised the importance of networking, interdisciplinarity and long-term sustainability. They stated that projects which bring together multiple stakeholders, integrate diverse knowledge and achieve institutional consolidation demonstrate greater impact and transformative capacity.
Participants were also reminded of the application process for the Uniservitate Award, via the GivePulse platform, with applications being accepted until 10th April. Further information about the Award is available on the Uniservitate website.
