Service Learning Practice Insights

Tuesday 12 October, 1pm-2pm

Service-Learning, also called Community Based Learning, is an novel way of encouraging students to become active citizens and participants in society by linking the curriculum with hands on leanring experiences delivered in partnership with community. 

Join us as the esteemed Dr Seth Pollack from California State University Monterey Bay gives an introduction to best practice Service-Learning and together with Kieran O'Connell, Social Inclusion Development Worker in Cork City Council shares practice insights on bringing this to life in Cork through the UNICORN project.

Of interest to community organisations, students and academics alike - this event inspires new and deepening relationships between University and communities as we look to the future.

Dr. Seth Pollack is Professor of Service Learning, and the founding faculty director of the Service Learning Institute at California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB). Dr. Pollack’s academic interests are in civic engagement, social change, and the role of educational institutions as facilitators of societal transformation. Dr. Pollack has a PhD in International Development Education from Stanford University and an MA in Organizational Sociology, also from Stanford. He served twice as a Fulbright Scholar, supporting higher education institutions in their efforts to strengthen their service learning and civic engagement programs  (South Africa 2008-09; European Union 2017-18). In 2005, he received the Thomas Ehrlich Faculty Award for Service Learning, recognized as the nation’s outstanding faculty in the field of community service and civic engagement, for his contributions to integrating service learning with issues of diversity and social justice in higher education curriculum. 

Together with and for Community

UNICORN Project - The principles of Service-Learning underpins the aims and objectives of the Erasmus+ funded UNICORN project involving Cork City Council, UCC and Universities from Bologna, Madrid, Leipzig and Antwerp. Exchange students from these universities are encouraged to take Service Learning modules while abroad as part of their degrees. 

UCC Community Week: This event is part of UCC Community Week 2021. During Community Week, staff and students across the university come together with community and public sector partners to host community focussed events and activities. The week long programme of events celebrates UCC as a civically engaged university.