Abstract:

In recent years the adoption and introduction of experiential learning, and in particular academic based service learning, has flourished both in terms of application and the resulting focus of research. Numerous studies have noted the benefits to students from the engagement in service learning, and also the benefits accrued by faculty and the institution a whole. Recently an increasing focus has been on the benefits of engagement in service learning experienced by community partners. The current study contributes to this line of research by analysing the responses of 71 non-profit and 63 for profit community partners with respect to their perceptions of the benefits they obtained by being engaged in transactional based service learning projects through the Brock University Goodman School of Business over the period of 2015 through 2017. The analysis indicates that community partners perceive the benefits of such engagement as significant and provides support for transactional based service learning programs. The results shed light on the nature of the benefits primarily derived through transactional based service learning.

Keywords:

Service Learning, Business Schools, Community Partners.