Mokymosi tarnaujant bendruomenėms (kooperuotų studijų) edukacinis poveikis : pilietinių ir profesinių gebėjimų ugdymo vertinimas

The article discusses how higher education may put the idea of educating a qualified specialist of a wide profile and a civic-minded personality into practice. It presents the results of empirical research carried out at higher education institutions in Northern Lithuania (Siauliai University, Siauliai State College and Panevezys College) with reference to innovative method of service-learning. The aim of the research was to evaluate the educational impact of this method on all target groups (teachers, students and communities) by revealing the pedagogical and institutional circumstances of its implementation. The article provides a detailed presentation of the service-learning as a concept and method. It also presents the survey results revealing the advantages of the method that contribute to the success of the integrated development of professional and citizenship skills. Service-learning provides opportunities to combine learning in academic and social environments, thus considering the importance of liberal education, cognitive, social, and pragmatic constructivism in developing students' skills for professional and social life