Service Learning & Volunteering opportunities
It is important you consult with your home university’s study abroad / student exchange office (or equivalent) prior to participating in service learning or volunteering programmes of Universitas 21 member universities. You need to register your participation with your home university’s study abroad / student exchange office (or equivalent), where they may be able to assist with information on other aspects of your proposed program such as visas, accommodation, and local knowledge.
Definitions: A volunteering opportunity is an unpaid position, either at the university or through an organisation in the local community.
Service Learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities
The opportunities listed on the document linked to below are current schemes that are open to all students from all universities. Last updated June 2010.
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham Sport offers a wide range of volunteering opportunities with a focus on sport and healthier living.
The University of Birmingham Guild of Students has over 100 different volunteering opportunities for students to get involved in, allowing students to volunteer on a regular or one-off basis, with one of 30 student-led volunteering projects or one of the many local charities and voluntary organisations in and around the Birmingham area.
Some Birmingham departments offer a credit-bearing Service Learning course or module, which involves 100 hours of work and is worth 20 credits (a full credit load for a year is 120 credits). Departments offering this option include Business (social enterprise/not-for-profit), Urban and Regional Studies (regeneration) and Applied Social Studies(social work).
University of British Columbia
UBC Alma Society, through UBC Connect,offers students a range of volunteer opportunities on campus. The opportunities link students to current priorities for the campus community (students, university town and university) eg food security, sustainability, families etc. UBC Alma Society, through UBC Connect, offers students a range of volunteer opportunities off campus in the local community. Opportunities are term or year long.
The Learning Exchange offers opportunities to reflect and learn while providing serves in partnership with local communities in schools and not for profit organizations throughout the term or during reading week. The Learning Exchange also offers free educational programmes for people who live and work in the Downtown Eastside and other inner city areas in Vancouver.
The Storefront Programs bring together community members and faculty, staff, and students from UBC in environments that encourage reciprocal learning.
Go Global’s International Service Learning (ISL) program engages students in meaningful projects led by community partners around the world in summer or reading week programs. By taking part in an ISL program, students can connect their academic studies with real-world experience and become an aware, active, and caring citizens. Projects take place in Lesotho, Swaziland, Uganda, Costa Rica and Mexico. Students must be on campus the term prior to their ISL experience to participate in the selection and prelearning process.
