Abstract

This article presents some of the results of a study focused on the analysis of the influence of ServiceLearning (SL) projects on the development of university student competencies. The axis of the study was inquiry into an SL project implemented by university students in a high school residence in the framework of one of their Social Education degree courses. University students and professors, high school students and two of the high school’s social teachers participated in the project. The research methodology was the case study, with document analysis, participant observation, semi-structured group interviews and an ad hoc questionnaire designed by the university professor as information collecting strategies. The results found the effects of the various dimensions related to the personal-student and social competencies to be: interest, self-sufficiency, self-assessment, connection of theory and practice, reflection and satisfaction of the students who participated in it. These findings emphasize the importance of this methodology for university students in acquiring personal-student and social competencies.

Key words: Service-Learning; competence development; teaching innovation; university students.