Service-Learning Projects (S-L): the contribution and perspective of partners

This abstract focuses on the experiences and benefits identified by the partner organisations of different Service Learning (S-L) projects developed in the course units of Social Work degrees of the Catholic University of Portugal located in Braga and Lisbon. The educational experiences were developed in ten social economy organisations, namely in the areas of ageing, education, social inclusion, disability, rural development, and social reintegration of prisoners. Furthermore, these experiences took place in different modalities: presential, online and hybrid. In order to assess the organisations' perspective on the implementation and results of the S-L projects, the responsible teachers applied reflection questionnaires and oral feedback to the institutional heads of the partner organisations directly involved in the implementation of the S-L projects. The data obtained show organisations' benefits in participating in this methodology. For example, according to the partner's feedback, the most important is the involvement and visibility given to the institution, users, and employees within the community and the recognition felt by the organisation in creating protocols that bring the university context closer to social economy organisations. They also highlight the importance of innovative applied practices that contribute to the development of social and civic skills of the monitored populations, with a concern for alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals.