Service-learning : relevance and meaning

Abstract

Institutions of higher education have multiple purposes. These purposes focus mainly on teaching (learning), research, and community service, but it is believed that more attention and resources should be turned to the compelling needs of the contemporary society. Therefore the growing urgency for Higher Education Institutions to become more involved and a more vigorous partner in addressing our most pressing social and economic community problems. The belief is that this involvement and partnership can be brought about through service-learning (SL), a community and Higher Education Service Partnership (CHESP), introduced by the Joint Education Trust (JET) in 1998. This article reflects on the development and implementation of a service-learning module in Human Resource Practices at the Central University of Technology, Free State to not only support the Free State Development Plan, but also to address both curriculum and community needs.