Innovative projects promote volunteerism and sustainability at the KU!

Innovative projects promote volunteerism and sustainability at the KU!

On March 10, 2025, the presentation of the projects from the seminar “Social Innovation II: Pro-Bono Case” took place at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt. Participating master's students showed their concepts for promoting volunteer work. Among these was Elisabeth Greß, who developed a recruitment and retention strategy for the educational center. The study identified positive aspects such as fun, networking and a sense of purpose that promote engagement, as well as lack of time and information as hindering factors. To counteract these challenges, Greß presented several suggested solutions, including creating job advertisements and connecting people to volunteer centers.

In addition, the master's students Benedikt Boddenschein and David Mori worked on the long-term financing of the Caritas debt counseling service in Ingolstadt. Their goal is to win regional companies as partners and to make them aware of the need for support via an information video. Bernhard Gruber from Caritas confirmed the positive feedback on the cooperation with the KU and thus maps out a future-oriented collaboration.

Sustainability and diversity in focus

The service learning seminar led by Dr. Ann-Kathrin Bremer's title is "Be the change! Make the KU more sustainable through service learning" and she deals intensively with the university's sustainability concept. As part of this initiative, Dr. Veronika Hecht asked students about ways to increase awareness of diversity and inclusion. For this purpose, information flyers were created that contain contact details for contact persons for diversity and inclusion. These flyers were used for the first time at an information stand in the cafeteria and will also be distributed at events in the future.

Another important element of the service learning activities was the international workshop event entitled “Service Learning Meets Business Education”, which took place at KU from February 26th to 28th. Concepts of service learning in connection with economics and the integration of artificial intelligence into seminars were discussed here. Registration was possible until February 17, 2025, with participants also having the opportunity to take part in individual keynotes and discussions.

Service Learning – A Sustainable Approach

Service learning combines academic learning with practical service for civil society and, since its introduction in the USA in the 1960s, has also proven successful in Germany, where it has been established as a seminar form since 2003. The methodological orientation aims to transfer theoretical knowledge into practical learning environments. Students work on real projects that cover specific support needs in the social sector.

The concept not only promotes academic personality development, but also strengthens students' social commitment and professional skills. The universities' exchange and networking offers support cooperation partners, teachers and students. These initiatives enable a close integration of university learning and social engagement, creating direct benefits for society while at the same time strengthening the relevance of universities in the region.

The benefits that arise from service learning extend to all actors involved: students expand their key skills and increase their motivation to study, while universities consolidate their position as socially committed educational institutions. Additional information about service learning and the programs offered can be found on the websites of the respective universities, such as the KU, the Frankfurt University and the University of Würzburg.