It is said that service-learning is different from volunteer work. Generally speaking, service-learning is a way of putting education back into society, of linking what students learn in the classroom to what goes on in the real world; it is a way of encouraging students to be useful and productive in the service of others, and it provides students with the means of developing skills related to interacting with others who are unlike themselves. It is a method of teaching, learning and reflecting, which builds academic instruction with practical service in community.

Message from Director

Yoshikazu Hongo, Director of Service Learning

Service learning is a type of course in which service activities and learning are combined. More concretely, it is possible to earn course credit by performing 30 days of unpaid service at a given site, and, under the guidance of a faculty member, carrying out preparation prior to such service and afterwards submitting a journal and essay. Students are strongly encouraged to undertake a process of reflection on what they are experiencing or have experienced at their service sites through writing journals and essays and discussions with faculty and peer students. This emphasis on the reflective process is what makes service learning different from volunteer activities. Service sites range from local agencies or NGOs that attend to the needs of their community to college or high school language classes in Japan or overseas.

Service learning aims at holistic education in which interpersonal connections and connections with community are valued, and feelings as well as intellect are considered. It also aims for students to acquire responsible (global) citizenship, and, hence, there is commonality with what is aimed at in the liberal arts education at ICU.

The pioneering work of International Service Learning at ICU was recognized as an “International Program for the Promotion of University Education” by the Ministry of Education, Japan. We have developed a network with universities in China, Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and India. ICU students can now participate in various service learning programs provided by those universities.

I hope many students will gain an interest in service learning.

■Message from SLC Adviser

"Enhancing the Liberal Arts Tradition"
Kano Yamamoto,Managing Trustee of ICU