Thesis (PhD. (Education)) --University of Limpopo, 2016 / This study reports on an exploration of a conceptual framework for service-learning in
order to provide a shared and common understanding necessary for guiding best
practice of service-learning at the heart of two-rural-based universities in South Africa.
The key research question answered in this study was: How is service-learning
conceptualised by dir ectors of community engagement, project coordinators,
academic staff members, and students at two rural-based universities in South
Africa?
The following sub-questions were developed on the basis of the key research question:
• What are the current community engagement projects that can be modified for
future practice of service-learning at two rural-based universities in South
Africa?
• What are the views of directors of community engagement, project coordinators,
academic staff members, and students regarding conceptualisation
of service-learning at two rural-based universities in South Africa?
• What are the possible strategies for conceptualising and managing the quality
of service-learning at two rural-based universities in South Africa?
• What framework will be relevant and appropriate for conceptualising and implementing
service-learning at two rural-based universities in South Africa?
A qualitative research approach using grounded theory design was employed in this
study. Convenience sampling was used to select the two rural-based universities in
the Limpopo Province of South Africa. Four similar schools from each university
(Education, Law, Agriculture, and Health Sciences) were sampled purposively.
Participants were also sampled purposively. These included the director of community
engagement, one project coordinator, two academic staff members, and two final year
undergraduate students who were taking part in community engagement or servicelearning-
related activity at each sampled school at both universities.
Data were captured through document analysis, semi-structured interviews with
sampled participants, and silent observations. Content analysis was used to analyse
data from documents. Data from semi-structured interviews and silent observations
were analysed thematically. Findings from documents, semi-structured interviews and
iv
silent observations were used to make recommendations for developing a framework
for conceptualising and managing the quality of service-learning at the two universities.
The study revealed that service-learning is an unfamiliar concept at these two ruralbased
universities. Advocacy of service-learning has never been done and no initiatives
are made on the part of these universities to familiarise this concept. The study's
findings also reflect that there is confusion among various role-players regarding the
meaning of the concept service-learning. Participants showed that some prefer to use
the concept community engagement rather than service-learning, while others view
service-learning as synonymous to community engagement.
The SMART conceptual framework was developed on the basis of the findings and
recommendations of this study. This conceptual framework is SMART because it is S -
socially relevant, M - manageable, A - adaptable, R - rural-based, and T - transformative.
The proposed SMART conceptual framework is intended to guide institutional
leaders, directors of community engagement, deans of faculties, directors of schools,
heads of departments, project coordinators, academic staff members, students,
traditional leaders, and community partners in conceptualising, implementing and
managing the quality of service-learning endeavours at the two rural-based South
African universities.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ul/oai:ulspace.ul.ac.za:10386/3302 |
| Date | January 2016 |
| Creators | Maphutha, Mokwi Morgan |
| Contributors | Rampedi, M. A |
| Publisher | University of Limpopo |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | xix, 297 leaves |
| Relation |
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