Apr. 26, 2021
Students' Challenges of Service-Learning Under the COVID-19 Pandemic During Spring Recess
On Friday, April 23, 2021, an SL presentation session was held by 10 students who participated in a 30-day service-learning (SL) practicum during spring recess and spring term. At the session, the students shared their experiences with their host institutions, SL advisors*, and students interested in SL. The session provided an opportunity for the students to reflect on their activities, report back to and thank their host institutions, receive academic advice from SL advisors, and provide encouragement to students who are thinking about participating in the future.
Under the COVID-19 pandemic, the students engaged in on-site activities in the local community during spring recess, taking care of their health by undergoing PCR testing prior to traveling to distant locations. Many of the activities were involved in the local community, such as the community development activities of the "Dochavengers" in Gojome Town, Akita Prefecture, which was the first program since the agreement was signed with ICU in FY2020, the Zero Garbage Movement in Kamikatsu Town, Tokushima Prefecture, which is run by ICU graduates, and international exchange with children in Mitaka City. The students also practiced agriculture with people in developing countries, living a self-sufficient lifestyle, supporting the education of children overseas and in Japan, and other activities in a variety of fields including agriculture, international issues, and educational support.
The following are some of the comments on the students' learning. "After returning from the agricultural life activities, I have continued to wake up early. During my stay, I gained a sense of gratitude for food, and I was able to develop environmentally friendly habits." "I felt that I had to do something to understand the needs of the community and solve the problems, but when I actually went there, I found out that there were no needs. By interacting with the local people, I found out that there are various forms of "services" that only "outsiders" can provide." "In Kamikatsu Town, where 45 types of garbage are separated, I felt that the way the community worked together to tackle environmental issues through interaction with local people was linked to the creation and revitalization of the region. Based on this experience, I would like to think about the theme of my graduation thesis and conduct further research."
Through the students' presentations, it was apparent that while the COVID-19 pandemic has limited people-to-people interaction, the learning gained by interacting with people through service-learning was very significant. Last summer, all domestic and international programs were cancelled, but this summer, we plan to conduct online SL in collaboration with partner universities overseas, and online or on-site SL in Japan. We look forward to further learning from students who will take on the challenge of what they can do under the pandemic.
* SL advisor: A faculty member who provides consultation, advice, guidance, and evaluation regarding service activities.