Impacts of service learning on tourism students’ sustainability competencies in conflict-affected Bamyan, Afghanistan
International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education
ISSN: 1467-6370
Article publication date: 9 February 2023
Issue publication date: 26 June 2023
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the impacts of service learning (SL) on teaching sustainability competencies in an undergraduate tourism program at Bamyan University, Afghanistan. This study reports on tourism students’ experiences in the SL course which taught five key sustainability competencies (collaboration, values thinking, action-oriented, systems thinking and integrated problem-solving).
Design/methodology/approach
This paper assessed students’ perceptions of their sustainability competencies gained during the implementation of the course in 2016 and 2017 through focus groups, reflective essays and participant observation.
Findings
The results demonstrate how the SL experience led students to self-discovery, strong conceptualizations of sustainability and working relationships with community stakeholders.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to assess the impacts of a SL course in Afghanistan. The analysis provides valuable information for developing effective higher education programs, relationships of trust between students and community stakeholders and the empowerment of students to contribute to local solutions which serve a role in stabilization efforts in conflict-affected contexts.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge the field assistance and translator support of Fatima Ahmadi, Jawad Mosavi and Rauf Rahimi. The authors acknowledge the valuable guidance and feedback made by Dr Gretchen McCaffrey and Dr Catherine Filardi. The authors appreciate the logistical support of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the suggestions by the faculty of the Department of Tourism, Bamyan University during the planning and development of this research. Gratitude is expressed to the University of Montana’s Department of Geography and Systems Ecology Graduate Program.
Citation
Franklin, K., Halvorson, S.J. and Brown, F. (2023), "Impacts of service learning on tourism students’ sustainability competencies in conflict-affected Bamyan, Afghanistan", International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 24 No. 6, pp. 1328-1346. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-04-2022-0112
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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