Role of the Universities as Drivers of Social Innovation

Cristina Puente, María Eugenia Fabra, Cindy Mason, Cristina Puente-Rueda, Maria Ana Sáenz-Nuño and Ramiro Viñuales
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Cristina Puente: Computer Science Department, ICAI School of Engineering, Comillas Pontifical University, 28015 Madrid, Spain
María Eugenia Fabra: Department of Quantitative Methods, ICADE, Comillas Pontifical University, 28015 Madrid, Spain
Cindy Mason: BISC, EECS Department, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94709, USA
Cristina Puente-Rueda: Computer Science Department, ICAI School of Engineering, Comillas Pontifical University, 28015 Madrid, Spain
Maria Ana Sáenz-Nuño: Institute for Research in Technology (IIT), ICAI School of Engineering, Comillas Pontifical University, 28015 Madrid, Spain
Ramiro Viñuales: Computer Science Department, ICAI School of Engineering, Comillas Pontifical University, 28015 Madrid, Spain

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 24, 1-14

Abstract: The role of universities as drivers of good practices and learning has changed radically in recent years. The strategic plan of the Comillas Pontifical University establishes the obligation of a learning and service subject in all degree programs as a way to put what has been learned during the university years at the service of society and as a vehicle for promoting the Sustainable Development Goals set by the 2030 Agenda. In this article we will present the theoretical framework on which the project has been developed, including the university context in which it fits, to analyze the process of design and implementation of a service-learning course in engineering degrees, selecting as case studies two examples of projects in which the social impact was high. As conclusions we will present the strengths and weaknesses of the implementation process, as well as the students’ learning based on their experiences.

Keywords: social innovation; learning and service; Sustainable Development Goals; social engineering; learning and service engineering projects; high education (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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