Project introduction
Service learning at Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) stands for innovation in teaching and research as well as outreach to the community. In the course of service learning, MLU contributes to experience-based knowledge transfer as well as civic engagement in study, teaching and research.
Starting point of all Service Learning activities at MLU is the module International Engagiert Studiert in the framework of general key qualifications (ASQ). The implementation of the module at MLU is supported by the Freiwilligen-Agentur Halle-Saalkreis e.V. (local volunteer center) and the Volksbank Halle (Saale) e.G. (local member-owned credit union). The current project International Engagiert Studiert is furthermore supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) with the objective to increase the involvement of international students.
In the course of service learning, students are involved in organizations outside of the university and thereby gain insights into professional fields of activity. The students contribute their professional expertise to help address and resolve social challenges. As a result, service learning also has a stimulating effect on specialized research and teaching.
The integrated approach of combining academic teaching and research with finding solutions for themes pertaining to civil society offers all participants a wide range of opportunities at the professional and personal level by:
- Linking theory and practice
- applying and further developing specialized and general skills
- raising new research questions
- fostering cooperation between the university and locally active organizations
- actively shaping the community
- bringing people from different backgrounds together
