Service Learning as a Means of Education for Sustainability

Service learning is a community engagement pedagogical approach applicable at all educational levels and under various educational agendas. Service learning can constitute a theoretical and practical framework for designing educational programs. As a pedagogical strategy, service learning ensures a link between educational objectives and community needs. Service learning is a framework for sustainable action and developing sustainable competencies, including the green skills necessary for life in a resource-sufficient society. Service learning is carried out to achieve the competencies of the educational program, while the initial selection of the topic stems from real community needs. The findings of an overview of previous research on green skills development through a service learning approach indicate that providing service learning contributes to reducing boundaries between educational institutions and the community and innovation and development. The research agenda behind this chapter is to outline what features of service learning, as a selected pedagogical approach, facilitate this change in green skills development.