Assessing Partner Engagement in ServiceLearning Programs

A significant contribution to the development of project-based learning is made by the new pedagogical approach «Service-Learning.» One of its fundamental principles is the formation of a partnership network and the culture of interaction with partner organizations. However, the relatively short period of implementing the «Service-Learning» methodology does not allow universities to accumulate and generalize experience working with partners within this program. Therefore, the aim of this article is to examine the issues and prospects of involving partners of Russian universities in the implementation of the «Service-Learning» program, based on data from a nationwide sociological survey. The article discusses the awareness of representatives of partner organizations about the «Service-Learning» program and the functions performed by these organizations in the process of project implementation. Special attention is given to the various challenges faced by partners as project customers and their satisfaction with participation in the program. Addressing these issues allows for an assessment of the readiness of partner organizations to further develop relationships with universities in the context of project-based learning in general and «Service-Learning» in particular. The empirical foundation of the article is based on data from a sociological study conducted in 2024 by the Methodological Support Center for the «Service-Learning» program at the National Research University Higher School of Economics (with support from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation). The online survey involved representatives of partner organizations who acted as customers for social projects implemented through the «ServiceLearning» methodology. The main findings of the study include the assessment of partners’ understanding of the goals and content of «Service-Learning,» their willingness to provide resources and active support to students in solving project tasks. The research revealed a high level of satisfaction among partners with the «Service-Learning» program, which ensures continued participation of partner organizations. The practical significance of the results lies in their potential use for developing solutions to enhance the partnership network of universities and improving the organizational conditions for the implementation of the «Service-Learning» program.