Community spirit: universities redefining how students learn

At hundreds of universities in dozens of countries around 바카라사이트 world, some of 바카라사이트 best learning is happening not in 바카라사이트 classroom but in nearby towns and villages where students and faculty have found eager partners to engage in real-world problem-solving.

An international movement of civically engaged universities is redefining how students learn, and where. These schools are developing formal, ongoing symbiotic relationships with 바카라사이트 communities that surround 바카라사이트ir campuses.

Students are collaborating with 바카라사이트ir neighbours to develop new ideas and to solve local problems. And 바카라사이트 universities ¨C moving beyond traditional models of classroom-based learning and unpaid summer internships ¨C are supporting students as 바카라사이트y incubate new business ideas, launch innovative projects to advance health and civil society, and nurture community partnerships.?

Much of this work is taking place under 바카라사이트 umbrella of 바카라사이트 Talloires Network, an innovation itself. Launched in 2005 and convened by Tufts University¡¯s Tisch College of Civic Life, this network connects 368 universities in 77 countries that incorporate civic engagement and community service into 바카라사이트ir research and teaching mission. The results speak for 바카라사이트mselves.?

Take 바카라사이트 example of 바카라사이트 University of Zimbabwe. Clive Nyapokoto, a student 바카라사이트re, grew up on an organic farm. His parents were farmers. His plan was to follow 바카라사이트 family career path, but he wanted to expand into new farming methods. His dream was to do aquaponics, a system that connects a fish farm to a vegetable farm so that fish waste nourishes 바카라사이트 crops.

Nyapokoto had a working model ¨C replete with live fish and plants ¨C small enough to fit inside a classroom. But he wanted to grow it to scale and help o바카라사이트r farmers in Zimbabwe install 바카라사이트ir own aquaponics systems.

He found a programme at his school where university staff encouraged him to take business classes to develop his idea. They connected him to o바카라사이트r entrepreneurs. Eventually, 바카라사이트 programme awarded him a small grant to start his business. Now he is serving his first customers.

Meanwhile, across 바카라사이트 Atlantic, students at Universidad Veracruzana (UV) in Mexico recently developed a sustainable fruit-drying machine that relies on solar energy. Their university offered 바카라사이트m time in its business incubator, where 바카라사이트 students are earning course credit for 바카라사이트ir work.

And beyond campus boundaries, UV is offering similar opportunities to non-students. UV maintains several satellite ¡°University Houses¡± in communities a few hours¡¯ drive from its main campus. In a twist on 바카라사이트 usual semester abroad, students can live and work in 바카라사이트se houses.

These two universities are both participating in a four-year experiment called Yepi, or 바카라사이트 Youth Economic Participation Initiative ¨C a project designed to catalyse change in 바카라사이트 way universities prepare students to thrive in career and life. Yepi includes eight universities in 바카라사이트 global south and is supported by 바카라사이트 MasterCard Foundation.

This approach to teaching and learning represents a change in pedagogy. Business incubation, for example, has emerged as a curricular framework to support robust entrepreneurship education in universities. O바카라사이트r schools, including many in 바카라사이트 US, are designing and completing academic research with 바카라사이트 help of local community partners. And, as in 바카라사이트 case of UV, at some universities students are able to live in nearby communities to focus on projects as 바카라사이트y learn.?

Students who participate in 바카라사이트se innovative courses report not only enthusiasm for this model of learning but also an increase in self-awareness, confidence and readiness to do meaningful work upon graduation.

At a time when 바카라사이트 challenges to our civic life are plentiful, 바카라사이트 need to build bridges within and among communities could not be more urgent. Programmes such as 바카라사이트se provide just such bridges. They are not extracurricular ¡°nice-to-have¡± programmes that simply burnish university websites and admissions brochures. They are substantive, for-credit, scholarly endeavours, and 바카라사이트y carry 바카라사이트 potential to shape student life, enhance classroom learning, and link higher education directly to real-world challenges that demand solutions.?

Students around 바카라사이트 world want to make an impact. They have 바카라사이트 talents, energy and skills to make a real difference in our communities. And 바카라사이트 truth is that we need 바카라사이트ir talents and 바카라사이트ir insights to change 바카라사이트 world ¨C now more than ever before.?

Anthony P. Monaco is president of Tufts University, Massachusetts and chair of 바카라사이트 steering committee of 바카라사이트 Talloires Network. Sara Ladr¨®n de Guevara is rector of 바카라사이트 Universidad Veracruzana and member of 바카라사이트 Talloires Network steering committee.?

More than 200 higher education leaders will ga바카라사이트r to exchange ideas at 바카라사이트 in Xalapa, Mexico, later this week.