The Experiential Learning Connections between University and Community: Recent Ontario Experience

Experiential Learning (EL), including a range of pedagogical approaches such as co-ops and community service learning, connect the university and its external community. Universities are considering such approaches to meet a number of needs and priorities both on and off-campus. As it unfolds rapidly at the present time, EL becomes the connection between the university and the community beyond its gates, both locally and more extensively. However, university-community or so-called town-gown (TG) connections traditionally focus on research and/or science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This thesis focuses on the teaching and learning connections, especially in Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS), which face persistent questions about disciplinary relevance and graduate employability. In addition, this thesis is concerned particularly with EL connections as they occur in the university’s local or ‘host’ community. The study shows the rapid and widespread adoption of alternative EL models across universities in Ontario. However, rapid adoption comes with diverse approaches and new tensions including issues of institutional centralization versus decentralization of EL arrangements. Funding challenges and the globalized agendas of universities also impact these local connections. In today’s skill and technology-driven world of work, university-community connections should be prioritized in higher education policy. Keywords: Experiential learning; University-community connections; Ontario; Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences