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Research Articles

Vol. 20 No. 4

Service-Learning in Building Engineering by Use of Interdisciplinary Field Education

Submitted
December 31, 2016
Published
2016-12-31

Abstract

Previous studies have demonstrated that service-learning (SL) can help students not only develop their personal qualities but also enhance their social and civic sense of responsibility. Despite many promotions since the mid-1990s, the development of SL is popular in humanity faculties but not in technical faculties with intellectual orientations less associated with social services. The shortage of support in these areas can be attributed to the lack of a conceptual model to guide the delivery of a quality service-learning subject for disciplines like building and engineering. To fill the gap, this study examined use of a 3-tier service-learning model that offers a pragmatic pedagogical design for developing SL subjects by encompassing interdisciplinary academic education and field services. The findings reveal that, beyond the technical skills in building and engineering, students’ generic skills and their awareness of social responsibilities have been enhanced through this interdisciplinary SL program.