It is full integrated into students' academic activities while, at the same time, providing them with the chance to use their newly acquired skills in real life situations for their own benefit and the bet fit of others. Within the next few years, all students in the Faculty of Community and Development Disciplines will be encouraged to undergo service learning. These courses are open to all students, no matter what faculty they are registered in, but credit may only be obtained with the permission of either the Dean of the student's faculty or the student's Programme Director. Prior to being placed in an organisation, students participate in workshops and seminars to acquire skills and review their academic experience to date. Clarification of values, expectations, and anticipated outcomes of the placement allows students to establish a baseline against which to assess their subsequent progress.
Students then work in an organisation for four to five weeks.
The organisation may be in the private sector, non-profit sector, or a government department or institution. It may be located in an urban or rural area. Alternatively, students may themselves identify the kind of work they wish to do. Students' preferences, and the organisation's ability and willingness to provide them with relevant experiences, are the primary factors determining choice of placement. The final part of the course is spent on campus reviewing and recording the service learning experience.