Background
The University of Kisubi (UniK) was admitted to the global consortium for Service Learning (SL) under the auspices of UNISERVITATE in December 2020. UNISERVITATE is an umbrella organisation that brings together over 20 Catholic-founded universities and institutions of higher education worldwide, which embrace Service Learning as a novel pedagogy for 21st century education. This pedagogy extols problem-based active learning, where learners are placed at the center of the entire learning process and experiences as a way of equipping them to translate the knowledge and skills learnt in class into practical solutions to life’s everyday challenges they encounter individually and in the communities where they live. This way, these learners are appropriately prepared not only to become drivers of positive change and transformation within their immediate and remote communities, but also engaged active citizens who always strive to improve their living conditions and those of their communities.
The Aims and Goals of the Essay Competition
This essay competition will be a platform for sensitizing the students’ fraternity and the wider University community about Service Learning. It will also generate and disseminate a body of knowledge about Service Learning and its benefits to the University community and society at large. But even more importantly, the Service Learning Coordination Team will obtain valuable feedback on how much the University community – particularly the students’ body – knows about the Service Learning programme and its promoters and partners, as well as what needs to be done to enhance its vision and mission in the University.
Who Can Participate?
The competition is open to all the students of the University of Kisubi.
How to Participate
Essays should be between 2,000 and 3,000 words?, and should demonstrate the writer’s general as well as specific knowledge about Service Learning as an emerging educational pedagogy of preference globally; University of Kisubi’s vision, mission, goals and objectives of the Service Learning Programme as well as its milestones so far; University of Kisubi’s promoters and partners on the Service Learning Programme; the benefits of University of Kisubi’s membership to the global and regional Service Learning networks; and the prospects for a stronger and more vibrant Service Learning Programme at University of Kisubi.
What You Stand to Gain If You Participate
A cash prize of UGX 500,000 will be awarded to the best essay, UGX 300,000 1st runners-up, UGX 200,000 for 2nd Runners-up, UGX 150,000, UGX 100,000 for 4th and 5th placed Essays respectively, among other awards like Medals, Trophy and Certificates to participants. In addition, the names of all the participants in the competition will be published on the University website, together with the best five essays. Similarly, some of the best essays from the competition will be shared with our wide readership within our partners’ networks worldwide.
Submission
Essays will be received in electronic form only, and should be emailed to: servicelearning@unik.ac.ug, not later that August 31 2022 For further information or any queries regarding this announcement, please contact +256772 431 349
