Stakeholders in Nigeria’s education sector have reiterated the need to integrate service-learning models in the tertiary education curriculum to enhance the employability skills of the nation’s graduates.
Highlighting the numerous benefits of the integration, at the University of Ibadan Service-Learning Celebration Day on Saturday, different speakers noted the model’s mutual benefits to students, faculty, college and community.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Service-Learning and Curriculum Service-Learning Model is an educational approach integrating community service with academic instruction.
The model promotes leadership, communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills that are valuable for graduate studies and future work readiness.
The day was celebrated with the theme: “Embedding Service Learning in Curriculum for Functioning University Education in Nigeria”.
It provided the platform to highlight the achievements of undergraduate students and community partners who had participated in service-learning projects.
Dr Tolulope Gbadamosi, Principal Investigator, University of Ibadan Service Learning Group, says service learning gives students practical and hands-on experience.
According to her, the experience connects students directly to their coursework and allows them to contribute positively to the community.
Gbadamosi adds that service learning also strengthens the university’s connections in the community and encourages students to be active citizens.
“Selected students from different departments have successfully undergone mentorship from our community partners as part of our ongoing research project aimed at enhancing undergraduate employability through the Service-Learning Model.
“This project not only contributes to the improvement of our community but also plays a vital role in developing essential skills and competencies that enhance students’ employment prospects,” she said.
NAN reports that the event has Dr Becca Berkey, a Director of Community-Engaged Teaching and Research, Northeastern University, USA, as the keynote speaker.
Berkey said defining a university’s role in addressing the complex issues that would shape the nation’s future and its people remained one of the challenges facing universities in aligning to truly meeting societal needs.
She said that society’s needs could be achieved through adequate assessment of the quality and impact of service-learning programmes.
“Universities can meet society’s needs through the development of an intellectual foundation for outreach that emphasises a more seamless interaction between the extension and application of knowledge and the other dimensions of the university’s academic mission,” she said.
Similarly, Prof. Ayodele Jegede, Director, Research and Management Office, University of Ibadan, said integrating service-learning models in the university curriculum would improve educational systems and learning processes.
He added that the integration would develop students’ civic responsibility through active community involvement.
A service-learning mentee, Miss Gbenuola Oluwole, a UI law student, who had her mentorship attachment at Oyo State Mediation Centre, said the project had strengthened her critical thinking, communication and practical skills.
A 500-level Chemical Pathology student, Daniel Anyirionye, said he was able to gain skills in personal branding, interpersonal development, time management and the ability to identify and proffer solutions to problems.
NAN reports the event featured awards and certificate presentations, networking sessions, a comprehensive overview of the research project’s findings and the experiences of participating students. (NAN)
