Abstract:

The purpose of this project is to integrate a group of professors and service-learning students (SLS) from different subjects and specialties from the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM), to develop an example of green infrastructure, in order to show the potential of these improvements in the quality of life and the environment in low-income neighborhoods. The project provides the opportunity for SLS students and other volunteers and professionals to participate in tasks related to their curricular activities. At the same time, SLS students can develop their curricular internships or their master or degree thesis.
The example of green infrastructure has been proposed in the “Ponce de León” educational center and could be applied to other public spaces, neighborhoods or cities, to enhance the potential of green infrastructure. The project is a multidisciplinary work in which teachers, students, associations (such as the neighboring platform "Nave Boetticher"), foundations (such as MonteMadrid) and others volunteers participate, with the aim of improving the quality of life by amelioration of the microclimatic and aesthetic conditions. The “Ponce de León” educational center is a space that seeks social inclusion through nature, gardening and people. This center welcomes low-income families, people with disabilities, and students with hearing problems. To archive its objective, the center has created urban gardens and greenhouses as social meeting points. The project aims to improve the classroom environment through green walls, showing a wide range of species and different systems that could easily be applied to any equipment or public space. A self-sufficient system in which the center itself generates everything necessary for its development and maintenance. In addition, to improving the classroom environment, an outdoor pavilion will be remodeled and adapted to the different environmental conditions in Madrid, where all kinds of activities can be carried out as a place for social integration. The pavilion has been modeled by ApS students from the Polytechnic University of Madrid, as an example of service-learning.
The general educational competencies to be developed through these service-learning activities are: 1) ethical commitment and 2) respect for the environment. Other competencies that could also be developed are: 3) problem solving, 4) analysis and synthesis of information from various sources, 5) teamwork and leadership, and collaborative decision-making skills. As well as organization and planning. The more specific competencies and abilities that can be developed are related to the challenge of sustainability, as established by the guidelines of the Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities (CRUE), they can be: 6) the development of group actions that commit actively with the reality of disadvantaged groups, 7) competences related to the sense of responsibility towards present and future generations, 8) use of service-learning in university education for the training of future professionals to take on the challenge of sustainability by " learning to transform".

Keywords:

Volunteering, service learning projects, community service, gardening, urban trees, educational competencies.