Service Learning and Learning City: Exploring School-Community Collaboration in Local Education Networks


Abstract:

The 2021 UNESCO Report refers to Service Learning (SL) as a pedagogy that integrates learning with a strong sense of purpose. SL is an educational approach that employs collaborative inquiry strategies to address real-world problems. This contribution presents the issues of a descriptive study examining the relationship between SL – which regards the school as educational, social, and cultural centre within the community – and the Learning City (LC), which places the local authority in support of strengthening the educational and social network. Drawing on the initial findings of a qualitative investigation, the article explores the intersection of these two paradigms and highlights the potential of SL as a methodological framework for realizing Learning Cities’ goals. It shows how SL can foster social justice and active citizenship through meaningful, place-based learning experiences. Finally, the article offers recommendations for educational policies and pedagogical practices aimed at nurturing more inclusive and participatory learning communities.