Volunteerism as Civic Education: Recommendations for University-Led Volunteer Courses

Higher education institutions often seek to integrate student volunteering with their community identity and course curricula. Focused on a newly designed course grounded in volunteerism and combining both coursework with hands-on placements, this paper documents initial student experiences. Data comes from in-depth interviews with participating students (n = 17) conducted after their completion of the course. We also analyze a portion of their coursework, in the form of preliminary reflections (n = 8), which were completed prior to their volunteering placement. These materials reveal the different challenges faced by domestic and international students, mixed perspectives on the value of theory, and opportunities to integrate student knowledge into future course iterations. We offer insights into ongoing conversations about how universities might intervene in matters of civic engagement for the benefit of students, universities, volunteer-led organizations, and wider communities.