Enhancing core competences of undergraduates through service-learning: Effects of different service-learning models

In order to deepen our understanding of the relationship between service-learning and undergraduates’ core competence development, a TDG project has been undertaken in Co-Curricular and Service-Learning (CSL) courses. The project’s objectives are to investigate quality elements in service-learning, and to develop teaching and learning materials for enhancing CSL course teaching and learning. This seminar will report undergraduate students’ core competence development over the course of one semester and how quality service-learning elements have fostered student learning. It was found that over the course of one semester, students’ agreeableness, emotional stability, and interpersonal skills have increased significantly, while their community service attitude has decreased. No change has been found in students’ cooperation orientation and skills. Interviews with individual students and course lecturers have identified the following quality elements of service-learning: direct contact with service recipients, engagement in cooperation actions, empowering students to design and lead service activities, project-based service activities, and prompt reflection after the service. The impacts of different CSL models, faculty-led CSL courses and collaborative CSL courses have also been examined, and implications will be reported in the seminar.