FASTA University, a Space for Reflection on Service-Learning in Higher Education

On 30th October, FASTA University in Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires Province (Argentina), held a conference entitled “El Aprendizaje y Servicio Solidario (AYSS) como estrategia pedagógica y de compromiso social [Solidarity Service-Learning (SSL) as a Pedagogical and Social-Engagement Strategy]”, led by Sebastián Puglisi (CLAYSS). The conference brought together university authorities, faculty members and institutional leaders to discuss the service-learning challenges at the University nowadays.

The meeting was attended by the university vice-rector, deans, department heads, faculty members and the secretaries of Outreach, Research and Academic Affairs Departments. Although the activities were held in person, professors from different regions of the country also participated online, which enabled a larger exchange and enriched the discussion on SSL experiences in the Argentine academic system.

The conference tackled key issues related to the epistemological dimension underlying the development of Solidarity Service-Learning projects, in particular, the SSL potential to interconnect academic knowledge with regional knowledge and needs, promoting a more committed, critical and situated education. Likewise, participants discussed the need to include university extension in the university curriculum, including community-assistance and educational activities in study programmes as a fundamental part of the teaching and learning process.

University FASTA thus reaffirms its commitment to higher education to strengthen the ties between the university and the community, promoting well-trained professionals capable of transforming their environment through social responsibility, critical thinking, and collective knowledge building.