Media Release

Mangaluru, Mar 6: St Agnes PU College is a premier institution run by the Apostolic Carmel Congregation aiming to educate young women into responsible citizens in the society. The Apostolic Carmel Congregation educational society has introduced the concept of service learning as a part of their curriculum. In this regard St Agnes PU College organised a staff enrichment session on March 6 on the topic ‘Service Learning - An Approach to Education of the Heart, Head, and Hands’ by Dr Sr Dorothy D’Souza, principal of St Ann's College of Education (Autonomous) and an esteemed alumna.

Sr Judith Frank welcomed and introduced the speaker to the gathering. Dr Sr Dorothy is a passionate educationist with a wealth of experience in implementing service-learning initiatives. She began her session by illuminating the essence of service learning. She emphasized its holistic approach to education, integrating community service with the curriculum to nurture emotional, intellectual, and practical growth in students.

Service learning is an educational reform plan. In her session she focused on the key   elements, components and stages of service learning. Through her real-life instances during her service-learning programme at Cambodia and Paris she illustrated the impact of service learning on oneself as well as the society. She shared her expertise in types of service-learning activities that can be organised for the students. Role of staff in implementing this programme is crucial so she urged the staff to plan in such a way that it is more of learning and less of service.

At the end of the session the staff was made to reflect on concrete ideas for implementing service learning within their respective streams. This interactive exercise encouraged creativity and sparked discussions on innovative approaches to integrating service learning into curricular and extracurricular activities. Pramila D’Souza proposed the vote of thanks.

The session was truly an encouraging one to the staff to put on their thinking caps and implement it for the coming academic year upholding the vision and mission of the Institution in bringing about a transformation in the society.