Nutrition in Action: Service-Learning Project

Overview

Service-learning methodology (SL) combines training and community processes in a single project where participants are trained while working on real needs of the environment with the aim of improving it. This methodology enhances the professional skills of the students, their personal and competence development, and develops a deeper sense of civic responsibility. The Human Nutrition and Dietetics Degree (ND) of the Faculty of Health and Welfare Sciences (FCSB) of the University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia decided to incorporate this methodology, according to University's training model, with the aim of generating learning situations that allow them to act, reflect and solve problems based on significant learning. We applied SL in the subject of Food Education Strategies designing and implementing a small food education program with 1 contact to detect the needs of the users, and 3 educational sessions. The implementation of the SL is based on the SL guide proposed by the Service Learning Network of Catalan Universities and we make it with 4 local social entities. The teacher responsible for the SL is coordinated with responsibles from entities who act as facilitators, authorizing the collection of data from the people of the entities, recruiting, informing and collecting the willingness to participate from the users. We plan to study the experience of participating in the SL activity in terms of student acquisition of skills and satisfaction of all the parties involved, based on an observational study carried out during 4 academic years (2025-2029). Through convenience sampling, a participation of 65 people is expected (20 students, 40 users, 5 responsible from entities). Data collection plans to compile information on: a.Experience of the SL of the university student body. b. Assessments of the users and responsibles from entities on the impact, quality and satisfaction with the SL activity. c. Proposal for improving the SL activity with the entities using the rubric for self-assessment and improvement of SL projects. Data collection will take place at the end of the activity using the REDCap platform (Research Electronic Data Capture) and the statistic analysis is planned using the SPSS statistical program.

The local social entities are: the St. Tomàs Foundation, the Vic Red Cross, the Miquel Martí i Pol Adult Education Center and the Montseny Adult Education Center. The students developed content and resources to adapt the dietary advice to one of the 4 entities in small groups of 3-5 people. They prepared the material during the subject guided by the teacher taking into account the characteristics of the users (elderly people living alone, people with disabilities, multicultural diversity). The entities welcome the university students and the managers of each entity guide them in developing the sessions. At the end of the Vic Classroom activity, the entities evaluate the students and the activity.