Back and forth to the campus: Tackling invasions through service-learning activities in higher education
International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education
ISSN: 1467-6370
Article publication date: 23 October 2020
Issue publication date: 11 December 2020
Abstract
Purpose
Invasive species are under the spotlight because of their detrimental effects on biodiversity. However, management of invasions presents multiple dimensions frequently difficult to disentangle. This complex topic has been tackled through a service-learning project on an invasive insect (Vespa velutina), a bee-eating species invading Europe. Specifically, this paper aims to assess the educational needs and motivations detected in a local population for the control of V. velutina, and evaluate the educational achievements of students participating in the project.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper illustrates how students prepared the service activity, which consisted in a quiz and interviews to public in a honey festival located in an area that has invested heavily in the control of the hornet. They informed visitors on its biology and impacts, and collected information on visitors’ knowledge and attitudes towards the hornet. This information was taken back to the class and discussed in an open debate.
Findings
The service activity uncovered important knowledge gaps of the local population and revealed the attachment to controversial control methods. Students acknowledged that the project met a real community need and valued the contact with the public, and the presentation of the project in the Faculty favored a debate on invasions management and biodiversity protection under the framework of campus sustainability.
Originality/value
While students are familiar with actions on campus sustainability, they are seldom confronted with the evaluation of management decisions on complex topics involving multiple dimensions. This service-learning project showed a good potential for fostering in-depth debates and promoting student engagement in campus sustainable initiatives.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the main partnership of this project, the Council of Oleiros, especially the members of the Emergency and Civil Protection Unit, for their willingness to help them organizing the activities, as well as the Office of Cooperation and Volunteering of the UDC. This project benefited from the enthusiasm of all the students participating in the Oleiros honey festival and the helpful comments of members of the Faculty of Science of the UDC. They acknowledge also the helpful comments of two anonymous reviewers.
Citation
Servia, M.J., Cao, A. and Lueje, Y.R. (2020), "Back and forth to the campus: Tackling invasions through service-learning activities in higher education", International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 21 No. 7, pp. 1413-1427. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-02-2020-0059
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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