‘Chameleon’ within the education landscape
De Wilde began his lecture by reflecting on his role as a ‘chameleon’ within the education landscape. He explained how his expertise in other concepts – such as participatory learning and civic engagement – can contribute to a deeper understanding of service-learning.
He particularly emphasised cross-links: how principles from different domains can reinforce each other and how cooperation between students, teachers and social actors can lead to sustainable learning experiences.
Co-creation in education
A key concept in his lecture was co-creation, the central theme of the event. De Wilde illustrated how co-creation in an educational context not only allows students to learn together with others, but also to actively contribute to social change. He encouraged lecturers to make space for open collaboration and experimentation within service-learning projects.
Conflicting educational paradigms
In addition, De Wilde discussed the influence of different educational paradigms on service-learning.
He pitted the test- and management-centred education system, which focuses on standardisation and efficiency, against UNESCO’s more holistic vision, which emphasises social justice, critical thinking and collaboration.
According to De Wilde, this contradiction has a direct impact on service-learning projects: while a management-centred approach mainly seeks outputs and measurable outcomes, the UNESCO vision encourages a process-oriented, transformative learning experience that prepares students for active citizenship.
Coaching and trialogue
Another cornerstone of his talk was the role of coaching and trialogue in service-learning.
Coaching not only helps students develop skills, but also reflect on their learning and social engagement.
The concept of trialogue – the dynamic interaction between students, teachers and community partners – was presented by De Wilde as a crucial element for successful service-learning projects.
In this context, contacting and contracting play a key role: creating a shared understanding and clear agreements between all involved ensures a fruitful collaboration and sustainable impact.
Call for dialogue
He ended his keynote with a call for dialogue: how can we as educational institutions, social partners and students further embed the principles of co-creation in service-learning?
De Wilde’s insights provided food for thought and were a valuable contribution to the debate on the future of service-learning in Flanders.