Publications of the Flemish network

Books

Partners of the Flemish network have published several relevant books on service-learning and community engaged learning in recent years. The ideal reading material to delve into the pedagogy!

Service-learning in higher education – Society as a powerful learning environment (Dutch)

Editors: Kaat Somers, Maaike Mottart & Nicolas Standaert

Publication year: 2025

Colleagues from the Flemish Network for Service-Learning in Higher Education joined forces to write the first book in Dutch on the service-learning pedagogy. In this book you will be introduced to the what, the why, and the how of service-learning. We explain the core principles of service-learning and discuss the relevance of service-learning for current educational trends to help you to get started with service-learning in your own educational practice. The topics in the book are illustrated through practice examples from the higher education institutions of the Flemish Network for Service-Learning in Higher Education.

Engaged Learning in Belgium

IDC Impact Series, Volume 2

Editors: Courtney Marsh & Noël Klima

Publication year: 2022

This book wants to give an in-depth review of Engaged Learning initatives in Belgian higher education. It encompasses eight diverse Engaged Learning cases from six higher education systems across Belgium (Flanders and Brussels). Highlighted is the diversity and flexibility to be found within Engaged Learning initiatives. However, the one constant is each initiative’s commitment to a concept where reciprocity between the students, universities, and communities, is prioritised. While the examples themselves differ in their structure and intended outcomes, this diversity is a benifit of Engaged Learning and further cements the varied nature across the disciplines in Belgium.

From a searching student to a driven professional (Dutch)

Community Service Learning: an experiential education method

Authors: Bea Van Robaeys, Siene Van Hoorick & Vicky Lyssens-Danneboom

Publication year: 2022

This practice guide outlines the challenges of educating modern education and social professionals, and discusses in detail cases, student experiences and the reactions of those they supervise. It advocates for more socially engaged and holistic learning in higher education, connecting with society and fully supporting students to become competent and driven professionals.

Experiential Learning in Architectural Education

Design-build and Live Projects

Editors: Burak Pak & Aurelie De Smet

Publication year: 2022

This book is an academic source of critical and practice-driven knowledge on experiential architectural design learning, provides methods for other ways of learning in the form of design-build and live projects, and offers design inspiration for community-engaged spatial practices relevant to both educators and practising architects and designers.

Service-Learning in higher education in Flanders

A state of affairs. November 2022.

Publication of UCSIA in collaboration with the partner institutions of the Flemish Network for Service-Learning in Higher Education

DiThis report provides an overview of the implementation of the service-learning pedagogy in higher education institutions in Flanders. In addition, it shows inspiring practice examples of service-learning courses and projects in various educational programs. The examples offer an insight in how service-learning takes shape at the partner institutions of the Flemish Network for Service-Learning in Higher Education and provide guidance for those who want to get started with a service-learning project themselves.

Academic articles & reports

Multiple Flemish researchers and practitioners have written scientific contributions on service-learning in academic journals or in research reports. We provide an overview of the most recent and relevant publications.

2025

Standaert, N. (2025). Service-learning: de samenleving als klaslokaal. In: (Red. B. Pattyn & P. d’Hoine) Zes eeuwen kennis in Leuven. Lessen voor de eenentwintigste eeuw, volume 31. Universitaire Pers Leuven. ISBN: 9789462704534

2024

Somers, K. (2024). The Flemish Network for Service–Learning in Higher Education. Bringing higher education institutions in the Flanders region together on service–learning and community engagement. RIDAS, Revista Iberoamericana de Aprendizaje-Servicio, 18, 5–15. doi:10.1344/RIDAS2024.18.2
Culcasi, I., Somers, K., Standaert, N., & Paz–Lourido, B. (2024). The European Association of Service–Learning in Higher Education.An analysis of its role as a catalyst for Erasmus+projects to enhance the impact of service–learning in Europe. RIDAS, Revista Iberoamericana de Aprendizaje-Servicio, 18, 30–59. doi:10.1344/RIDAS2024.18.4
Somers, K. (2024). Service-learning & digital empowerment. Een reflectie met service-learning stakeholders uit het Vlaamse hoger onderwijs . Erasmus+ project SLIDE.

2023

Schrooten, M., Evans, F., Kloppenburg, R., Csoba, J., & Kinos, S. (2023). An argument for transnational learning in social work programmes: experiences from the Erasmus+ ‘Urban Diversities’ course. Social Work Education.
Geers, I., Meijs, L., & Somers, K. (2023). The Service-Learning & Digital Empowerment Manifesto.
Mottart, M. (2023). Studenten over wederkerigheid, reflectie en leren in service-learning, Pedagogiek 43(1), 1-25
Moriau, L. (2023). Community Engaged Research and Learning (CERL): a transformative approach to education. In Curriculum Innovation through Research, 33, p. 9. Centre for Educational Development, Queen’s University Belfast.
Mottart, M., & Standaert, N. (2023). Towards Sustainable Institutionalization of Service-Learning: Strategies and Lessons Learned at KU Leuven. In Jouannet, C. & Arocha, L. (Eds.) Institutionalization of Service-Learning in Higher Education [Report]. Buenos Aires: CLAYSS, pp. 237-250.
De Vleminck, J. (2023). Geen Seroquel maar Socrates: Over filosoferen met kwetsbare groepen, psyche 35(1), 7-9.

2022

Claes, E., Schrooten, M., McLaughlin, H., & Csoba, J. (2021). Community service learning in complex urban settings: challenges and opportunities for social work education. Social Work Education, 41(6), 1272-1290
Frigyik, M., & Matolay, R. (Ed.), Bates , C., Creus , A., Gmelch, N., McCann, S., McGowan, C., McKenna, E., Pérez, S. M., Moriau, L., Toarnickzy, A., & Van der Schueren, B. (2022). CIRCLET Guide for Facilitators: Learning Circles for Community Engaged Research and Learning [Training guide].
McKenna, E. (Ed.), Bates , C., Creus , A., Frigyik, M., Gmelch, N., Matolay, R., McCann, S., McGowan, C., Moriau, L., Van der Schueren, B., & Toarnickzy, A. (2022). CIR
CLET Guide for Lecturers: Resources to Implement Community Engaged Research and Learning in University Teaching and Pedagogy [Training guide].
Moriau, L., Tondeur, J., Bertone, J., Huysmans, M., Temmerman, M., & Meurs, P. (2021). The engagement CUBE: a dialogical tool for designing, facilitating and monitoring engaged research and teaching strategies. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 23(4), 783-798

2021

Van Stichel, E. (2021). Service Learning as a Response to the Church Call for Justice, Peace and Sustainable Development. In A. Peregalli & I. Beatriz.Service-Learning Pedagogy and the Teachings of the Church [Report]. Buenos Aires: CLAYSS, pp. 141-164.

2020

Chmelka, A., Anderson, L., Ferraresi, E., Griffith, M., Klima, N., Marsh, C., … Sutela, E. (2020). Communities and Students Together (CaST): a state-of-the-art review of Engaged Learning in Belgium, Finland, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom [Report].

In the media

Our network partners never miss an opportunity to draw media attention to the importance of service-learning and community engagement in higher education.