On 23 January 2025, the ServU project hosted an online event “Pedagogy of Service-Learning (SL) for Community Development during War and Recovery”.

The event brought together educators, researchers and representatives of civil society initiatives to discuss importance of service-learning in war and post-war time. Over 260 participants from 32 countries joined the meeting.

Participants exchanged views on adaptation of service-learning to war conditions, civic engagement in post-war recovery, digital service-learning. One also concerned reflection as a tool for personal and community resilience in service-learning projects.

During the event, university representatives presented the Service-learning Guidelines developed by the ServU project.

The case of service-learning at SumDU was presented by Inna SHKOLNYK (first vice-rector), Olena KUPENKO (professor at the Department of Psychology, Political Science and Socio-Cultural Technologies), and Daryna KICHKO (student rector).

Inna SHKOLNYK focused on organization of the educational process in wartime, taking into account the difficult security situation. One of the academic buildings damaged by an enemy air strike in September last year is a vivid example. The vice-rector expressed special gratitude for support of the entire educational community. In particular, it concerned the event moderator– the Ukrainian Catholic University. Inna SHKOLNYK noted the university is making efforts to create additional safe spaces for organizing classroom activities. SumDU raises learning effectiveness with the use of digital technologies. In particular, case services of the MIX platform are being actively expanded. The vice-rector paid special attention to expanding the university presence in the global academic environment, developing educational and scientific partnerships. SumDU has 21 new partnerships in the past year alone.

“Difficult times make our universities and our education system stronger and more competitive, open up more opportunities for education,” –emphasized Inna SHKOLNYK.

Olena KUPENKO, guarantor of the Bachelor's Curriculum in Social Work, presented practical examples of socially oriented education to the participants. She focused on traditions of student practice in response to community needs and prospects for service learning.

A significant contribution to the practical case study is research conducted by teachers and students of the Department of Psychology, Political Science and Socio-Cultural Technologies within the ServU-ERASMUS-EDU-2023 project. In particular, focus group interviews were conducted to identify needs of local communities for resilience, recovery and development. In each of the communities where the interviews were conducted, representatives of local governments, businesses, the public sector, and community members, including vulnerable groups, participated in the focus groups.

The research purpose was to identify problems, needs and resources of territorial communities in war and post-war conditions to develop service learning courses. They will promote formation of community-oriented services in the community.

Olena KUPENKO noted, 70% of the qualification works were commissioned by government agencies and organizations, the public and business sectors, or have certificates of practical implementation.

Daryna KICHKO spoke about experience of organizing work with students. One socialized students in a mixed learning format during the war, engaging them in community, volunteer and cultural events, and expanding cooperation with employers.

SumDU is actively implementing socially oriented education in education. It integrates educational achievements into overcoming social challenges, solving problems in communities, and developing society during war and recovery.