Learning to Give:
Volunteering, Community Engagement, and Social Responsibility in Action

According to Cabedo et al. (2018), students who are more extensively involved in socially responsible activities tend to be more satisfied with the work they do and the results they achieve, particularly in terms of acquiring social competencies. Additionally, further evidence suggests that awareness and engagement in social responsibility projects increase a student’s accountability and integrity (Obaid et al., 2016). This implies that volunteering not only benefits the community but also serves the student by enabling them to apply the theoretical elements taught in the classroom to real-world activities and to undertake collaboration in problem solving. Engagement in volunteering is purported to develop students' awareness of the impact their behaviour and actions have on the people and environment around them. They may also encourage students to engage with their peers and community in an ethical way (Berei, 2020).

Volunteering builds far more than experience, it builds character. It demonstrates initiative, motivation, and a genuine desire to make a positive impact. Through volunteering, students develop essential soft skills such as leadership, teamwork, communication, and problem-solving, all of which are highly valued by employers. It also showcases responsibility, reliability, and a strong work ethic, signaling integrity and commitment. Beyond personal growth, volunteering opens doors to new networks, connections, and future opportunities.

This BIP aims to integrate volunteering into a student programme, with the goal of contributing to and enhancing society and its environment. It therefore addresses the future path of higher education and investigates the value of the projects to both students and the organisations with which they engage.

Before the face-to-face week, students will be required to engage in 10 hours of volunteer work, preferably in their field of study. Additionally, they will be required to attend one online teaching session and one support session before the live teaching week in Limerick and Athlone, Ireland. During the live teaching week, students will work with charitable and volunteering organisations, assisting in their activities to gain an understanding of the work they do and their contribution to the communities TUS is part of.  Students will also attend several expert lectures and workshops, contributed to by lecturers as well as external guests. The intention is to provide students with the opportunity to engage in altruistic projects and support the development of the skills  and attributes necessary to foster wellness leadership within the workplace.

Local stakeholders involved in this BIP in Athlone may include; Food Kitchen, Beach Cleaning Group, Tidy Towns, and in Limerick may include The Hunt Museum and Munster Rugby, European Volunteering Capital, Limerick Volunteer Centre and North West Sea Kayaking Association (NWSKA). Food will be a key theme of the BIP.

Hosted across the TUS Athlone and Limerick campuses, this BIP integrates volunteering into students’ learning journeys, empowering them to contribute meaningfully to society while exploring how higher education can support positive social and environmental change. Students will collaborate with Irish community organisations, gaining hands-on experience and insight into the real value of civic engagement.

Participants can expect a dynamic blend of expert input, group work, dialogue sessions, reflective activities, and social events, all designed to strengthen their understanding of community engagement and social responsibility.  

Theis BIP will also include local visits and cultural activities across Athlone and Limerick, giving students the opportunity to experience Irish community life, heritage, and social innovation first-hand.

Join us at TUS and discover how giving back can shape you into a confident, capable, and socially responsible changemaker, ready to make a positive impact in an interconnected world.