TITLE:
Impact of Service-Learning on Students Employability Skills: A Balanced Approach to Empower Meaningful Learning Experience
AUTHORS:
Muhd Khaizer Omar, Mas Nida Md Khambari, Aini Marina Ma’arof, Abu Bakar Razali
KEYWORDS:
Experiential Learning, Skills-to-Work, Community-Based Learning, Volunteerism
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.10 No.2,
February
25,
2022
ABSTRACT: The present study first defined
service-learning and highlighted the research outcome from the organized
service-learning project at the university. Meanwhile, the distinction between
service-learning and volunteerism was also explored by applying the existing
theoretical knowledge to practicalities, including how the two terminologies
are different in identifying meaningful learning experiences of students
involving more hands-on approaches. On a similar note, the concept of knowledge
without practicality had been justified in past research whereby the
transferable core skills were transmitted through the experiential learning
of students for the purpose of developing employability skills. The objective
of the current research was to investigate the impact of service learning in
reciprocal processes on students and communities, particularly in regard to how
these experiences can benefit the two parties based on the perspectives of the
students. In regard to this matter, the current research carried out a case
study on 15 postgraduate students who experienced service-learning project at
Putra Future Classroom at the Faculty of Educational Studies, Universiti Putra
Malaysia. More specifically, a specific project call “Earth Day” was organized
in commemorating the annual earth day celebration around the world. The project
involved children aged between four and six years old who experienced numerous
activities related to earth day awareness campaign. As such, this paper analyzed
the postgraduate students’ feedbacks to investigate their experiences in
organizing service-learning project. Apart from that, the researchers deemed
that it was important to assess the learning experiences from the theoretical
knowledge obtained from the traditional classroom for the course Program
Evaluation in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVE5006 and
EDU5443). At the end of the service-learning project, the students were asked
to answer an open-ended qualitative questionnaire disseminated on JotForm which
an online questionnaire platform for the purpose of data collection is. All
answers were recorded and later analyzed thematically using a two-layer
constant comparative analysis method which was then triangulated with class
assignments, observations, and students’ reflections by way of journal entries.
Finally, the current research examined the meaning and value of pragmatic
education based on the concept of education as democracy for all as stated by
John Dewey in order to redefine the curriculum for the 21st century with
the aim of making it more vibrant and promulgating “on-the job” training prior the employment of graduates.