Resumen de Perceptions from students and non-profit organizationsafter using the service-learning methodologyin a marketing degree course in business & management
Marta Marco-Gardoqui, Almudena Eizaguirre, María García-Feijoo
In this paper, the authors will show the results of a research study carried out with students andnon-profit organizations, after using the service-learning methodology in a Marketing Degree course inBusiness & Management.The aim of this methodology is “to involve students in organized community service that addresseslocal needs, while developing their academic skills, respect for others, and commitment to thecommon good” (DiPadova-Stocks, 2005).“Service learning is appropriate for all business disciplines; marketing in particular is well-suitedto service learning” (Easterling & Rudell, 1997), due to the interest in marketing for social causes(Klink & Athaide 2004), and, especially, “small businesses and nonprofits, in particular, often lack internalmarketing capabilities and do not have the financial resources to outsource them” (Mclntyre etal., 2005).According to the literature, when service learning is used in business schools, both businesses andstudents benefit (Tucker et al., 1998). Businesses benefit from the physical and intellectual inputs of students.Students benefit in a number of ways: enriched skill base, improved learning, development ofnew contacts with stakeholders, better understanding of community needs, and increased sensitivity tocommunity responsibility. Students also may improve their leadership, human relations, time management,and presentation skills (Mclyntre et al., 2005).In this paper, the authors share the results of the research conducted aimed at measuring the perceptionof value received by non-profit organizations who participated in this particular experience ofservice-learning courses in academic years 16/17 and 17/18; and explain the opinion of some of the studentsthat collaborated in this experience.
