Service Learning and Civic Education

There has been deep reflection on the search for excellence in higher education and a revisit of the virtues and responsibilities of individuals in society since the financial tsunami in 2008. The university is a key driving force for innovation and change, so higher education administrators also have to rethink appropriate technology and strategies in cultivating socially relevant leadership in a post-modern society. The new students, who are Internet proficient and commonly known as Generation Y, require less information dissemination in class. They are looking for opportunities to articulate their life goals, search for their ideals, visualize their dreams, try their ideas, and develop their vision for the future. Student-centered experiential learning through servicing is a good choice for this generation. Examples of service learning projects in the US and the University of Hong Kong are shared. The sense of commitment to the poor, self-esteem, and sense of meaning of the students are significantly enhanced. However, service learning is not without problems. Issues of assessment, motivation, monitoring, training, and sustainability are challenges that administrators have to resolve in cultivating morality and responsibility in transforming leadership for tomorrow.