FS 3002 - Service Learning

Faculty of Science provides opportunities for undergraduates to foster habits of public engagement through Service Learning. Service Learning (FS 3002) is a unique experience that combines academic coursework with meaningful service activities and critical reflection on that service. 

• Puts the theory learnt in the classroom into practice in the community.
• Projects are uniquely tailored to meet specific learning objectives and community needs.

• Report – 45% (Individual mark)
• Viva – 30% (Individual mark): (Viva board – Academic mentor, Cooperate sector mentor and second examiner)
• Log book – 10% (Individual mark)
• Group Presentation – 15%

Service Learning Programme is a Triple Helix model where 3 parties work together.

Service Learning was started in 2012 under the Career Guidance Unit.

We are the first university to implement such a programme in Sri Lanka.

• When: 2^nd semester of the 3rd year
• To whom: General Degree students
• Duration: 5 – 6 months

Highlights

• An academic programme with 8 academic credits
• Projects are supervised by volunteer academic mentors of the faculty
• Projects are mostly funded by Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects of private sector.
• Each project has an academic mentor and a placement mentor-in charge of designing, implementation and review of projects.

We do Service-Learning projects on different fields as follows,

• Education
• Health and Nutrition
• Projects on leadership, Capacity building and Innovation
• Environmental Conservation

This Award winning program is sponsored by various corporate partners (2012 – 2021).

Service-Learning projects are designed and offered to undergraduates to work with corporate sector partners to engage in volunteer community service while gaining eight (08) academic credits. The Faculty of Science of the University of Colombo is the first in the country to offer Service Learning as an academic course.

Implementation:

For each project an academic mentor/s from the Faculty and a placement mentor from the sponsor will be appointed. From the group members, students should appoint a group leader and a coordinator who are responsible for managing activities, finances and time as well as liaising with the mentors. Please inform your mobile no and e mails to CGU and both are responsible for smooth coordination and communication.

1. All-important activities that are carried out should be brought to the notice of the academic mentor. At any given time, the academic mentor has the right to interfere with, comment on and alter if necessary, the activities implemented. It is the duty and the responsibility of the student/ group to meet the academic mentor at least once in two weeks to discuss progress and get advice.
2. Students who participate in SL projects are encouraged to extend volunteer help to other events at the Faculty when required.
3. Academic mentor and Chairperson/ Service-Learning Committee of the Career Guidance Unit are the decision-making bodies related to any projects. Without prior consent of them no student can amend/ alter / postpone any activity/program related to SL.
4. It is mandatory for the students to participate in all programs that are organized by the CGU to develop soft skills and enhance quality of the program.

Duration:

All students must be engaged in the chosen project for a total of 20 hours per week for 6 months.

Records:

Use the Service-Learning diary to record activities which should get endorsed bi-monthly by the academic and corporate mentors. The records should reflect the work carried out, tasks completed, and skills developed.

Each student could create a portfolio to present samples of written work, photographs, videos, reports, summaries and other documentation of the learning outcomes of the service-learning experience.

Work ethics:

Students are expected to meet reasonable code of ethics and time schedule requirements as determined by the academic mentor/ Service-Learning Committee.

Prohibited activities:

Students are not supposed to engage in the following activities:

• Volunteer/ paid work where no academic objectives are addressed
• Work that involves promotion of business entities and political agendas
• Activities that lead to social disharmony
• Activities that pose physical risks to individuals/ society
• Activities that are unethical and illegal

Precautions:

All student should take necessary precautions when getting involved in field work, using equipment, travelling outstations, staying overnight etc. If such activities carry risks, it is the duty of the student to inform the mentors.

Student evaluation:

Evaluation and grading will be based on participation and completion of assigned responsibilities, written reports, presentation and a viva exam at the end of the semester. This will be carried out by the mentors and independent evaluators from the academic staff.

Other requirements:

The results will be released only after the essential requirements such as successful completion of project reports, presentations, seminar, viva etc. are met.