Volunteerism as Civic Education: Recommendations for University-Led Volunteer Courses
By Ben Lyall,
This paper reflects on the development of a new volunteering course at an Australian university. In qualitative findings from this pilot study, a diverse cohort of students reflects on the benefits and challenges of connecting education, community, and social causes. Students felt a ‘need to give back’ to community, but often lack the knowledge, experience, and time to volunteer. In the context of a large institution with mixed cohort of domestic and international students, the paper offers reflections on the value of ‘volunteerism’ to navigate the mixed incentives for universities as places for education, individual self-development, and civic engagement.
The Journal of Political Science Education is an intellectually rigorous, path-breaking, agenda-setting journal that publishes the highest quality scholarship on teaching and pedagogical issues in political science. The journal aims to represent the full range of questions, issues and approaches regarding political science education, including teaching-related issues, methods and techniques, learning/teaching activities and devices, educational assessment in political science, graduate education, and curriculum development.
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