Abstract:

Students from Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) actively involved a new attempt in a service learning program(Yogyakarta Kampung Field Scool- YKFS) in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

The Yogyakarta Kampung Field School (YKFS) was a Service-learning project jointly organized by Duta Wacana Christian University, Yogyakarta (DWCU) in Indonesia and Australian National University (ANU), Canberra, Australia. The programme has been conducted since 2009. PolyU was invited to join the Programme since 2012. This programme serves as a pilot service learning project for the planning of a credit-bearing service learning subject.

This was the first international service learning program for PolyU students to reach southern hemisphere. It was also PolyU new attempt to collaborate with other two universities in service learning. PolyU is committed to nurturing students to become responsible global citizens with a strong sense of social responsibility and global outlook. The trip has provided a good opportunity for students to become global citizens and enhance their generic competence.

All students in the programme were required to learn from the local wisdom with a view to develop local villages. Students worked with the local community under the guidance of university staff members to identify needs of rural community and strategies to developing the potentials of these villages. The services carried out could be categorised into six areas, namely tourist promotion, health care, map production, education, water supply and economics. At the end of the trip, students presented their findings and recommendations to the local government officials.
This paper will discuss the characteristics of this program; evaluate the program achievements and recommendations for possible improvements in future run. The details of this paper would compose with students’ reflection, survey result (conducted before / after project trip) and advisors observation.

Keywords:

Service Learning, Learning outcome.