Cross institutional interchanges: student-teacher perspectives on an Irish service learning partnership

Abstract

The research partners in this action research study are the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Letterfrack (GMITL) and QDS, Cope Foundation, Cork. GMITL is a provider of undergraduate initial teacher education (ITE) for second level teachers in the technical subjects Construction Studies and Design and Communication Graphics. QDS is service provider for adults with intellectual and physical challenges, specialising in wood technology and manufacture. GMITL student teachers engage in a civic engagement placement with QDS using the model of service learning (SL). This study investigates student teacher perspectives on participation in the SL experience with QDS. The study aims to identify benefits and challenges arising out of this partnership.