Service learning, a relatively new concept for higher education in Germany, extends the reach of the universities to non-profit partners from sports, culture, social services, and municipalities. To the extent the universities consider themselves a stronger part of societal networks, curriculum and academic activities will be more closely linked to current community topics.

For many years, Nuremberg Tech has been cooperating with charities, sports teams, museums, and other non-profit organisations. Numerous projects have been completed in this area. Nuremberg Tech’s Service learning office acts as the contact point and facilitates specific projects under the motto of “competence through engagement”. 

Project duration: 1 October 2020 - 31 August 2021

Project management

  • Prof. Doris Rosenkranz

Project staff

  • N. N.

Universities are considered as a part of local social fields - municipality, neighbourhood - within the framework of service learning. Academic activities as a core competence of higher education are expanded to include the aspect of common public interest. A basic characteristic of service learning is the integration directly into the curriculum - in the form of a course, a project, or a final thesis at either undergraduate or graduate levels.

To make service learning feasible, all important actors - the student, the non-profit partner(s) in the region, and Nuremberg Tech faculty - must be introduced and get to know each other well. To this end a one-day, high-profile, hands-on event is organized: the “Marketplace of Engagement”. After the local non-profit organizations have been introduced, students in all fields of study develop ideas for projects and interesting papers and theses. The programme supports the development of student skills through engaging with the community and that service learning is successfully put into practice within the university.

This project is supported by third-party funds from the Bavarian State Ministry for Family, Labour, and Social Affairs.