Impact of service-learning among university students in Nigeria

Abstract

Several studies have highlighted the need for the active involvement of university students in the paradigm shift from the conventional rote mode of learning to active learning. Service-learning is a teaching and learning strategy that allows students to impart their knowledge and skills to solve problems in the community. Although it has been implemented in some Nigerian universities, service-learning is relatively new to the educational system in Nigeria. Therefore, this exploratory study aims to identify the impact of service-learning on the students who have actively participated in such programs. Data were collected through interview and subsequently analysed using the Nvivo software. The findings showed that the service-learning programs are educationally valuable and impactful on the students. Therefore, the incorporation of service-learning into the Nigerian university curriculum is recommended.