Service Learning
Integrating community service with academic study
Semester-based Service Learning Program
At the University of Konstanz, social engagement is highly-valued as a driver for responsible research and study. We are committed to the idea that fulfilling higher education’s responsibilities to society equals to ensuring that research and study have an impact beyond the University’s walls and that the societal changes and challenges of today inform our projects and activities.
Facilitating knowledge exchange between academic participants and communities, gaining insights into effective strategies for overcoming barriers and prejudice, and creating conversations that deepen participantsʼcultural, social, and self-awareness — these are some of the learning outcomes which can be experienced intensively through service learning activities with community partners outside the University.
The University of Konstanz together with the Centre for Transferable Skills is offering international students a creative and collaborative way to participate in different social programs in the greater Konstanz area, and accordingly, to earn Credits for their academic curricula at the same time.
What does the program consist of?
Students coming to the University of Konstanz during the regular lecture period (April to September / October to March) have the opportunity to participate in our semester-based Service Learning Program, which includes the following:
- introductory sessions at the beginning of the semester, providing theoretical insights and practical strategies regarding working supportively with people affected by conflict and displacement
- a total workload of 25-50 hours throughout the semester, the number of credits will vary accordingly (6 ECTS minimum)
- various social projects to choose from
- regular sessions dedicated to critical reflections upon the service learning experiences
- final reflective paper
Service Learning Community Partners
What international students say about the program
"I am so grateful to be offered this opportunity to volunteer with refugees and have enjoyed it so much that I will be continuing to volunteer at Radolfzell […]. I think that the fact that Universität Konstanz offers such a module, valuing volunteering as well as the refugee crisis, is excellent and would thoroughly recommend it to any future students. Especially internationals who are also likely, like me, to come from countries that do not accept as many refugees as Germany does".
“Also, this experience made me conscious about my own stereotypes. We all want to believe that we don’t have stereotypes and that we’re already the best version of ourselves. But this isn’t true, we can (and must) always improve and even we don’t want to, we have stereotypes, but facing them is how we can learn and get rid of them. I realized that I had stereotypes about the culture and about how refugees will behave or treat me, but after interact with them I saw that, of course, they are all different and that at the end, despite the difference of the situation, they look for the same things as everyone: social interaction, friends, happiness or entertainment”.