Culture of engagement: Preparing civic-minded public service professionals of the future

Abstract

The emerging arena of community-based research (CBR) and service-learning incorporates a collaborative approach of civic engagement for students to analyze and develop solutions to complex problems and bring about social change and strengthen communities. Focusing specifically on the student population, a culture of engagement supports moral, cognitive, and interpersonal development. This orientation of engaged research and service-learning is critical to developing a student’s civic engagement through its provision of prime opportunities to enhance skills and abilities related to diverse partnerships and increase their knowledge of the community context in which they will practice. In this chapter, the authors discuss community-based research, service-learning, and engagement along with competency development and the role of the university. In addition, the authors review a professional school in a metropolitan research university that bridges the gap utilizing an experiential learning program.