Service-Learning at the University of the Immaculate Conception: A Journeyof Faith, Service, and Growth

At the University of the Immaculate Conception (UIC) in Davao City, education goes beyond the four walls of the classroom. It is about living out values, engaging with communities, and growing personally and spiritually. This is the heart of UIC’s service-learning program, where students are encouraged to roll up their sleeves, step into real-world situations, and make a difference in people’s lives.

However, service learning at UIC is about more than just fulfilling academic requirements. It’s about shaping students into responsible, compassionate, and socially aware individuals. A journey of faith, excellence, and service transforms students from passive learners into active agents of sustainable change.

A Hands-On Approach to Learning

Imagine this: a group of UIC students heads out to a nearby community to conduct a health and wellness program for children. They’re applying what they’ve learned in their classrooms, engaging with families, listening to their concerns, and figuring out how to serve them best. This is what UIC’s service-learning looks like—hands-on learning that addresses real needs.

In this process, students are not just ticking boxes on a list of tasks; they’re developing empathy, leadership, and a sense of responsibility. They learn to see the world through others’ eyes and realize that their education can create real change.

Bridging Academics and Community Service

UIC is unique in promoting both academic and co-curricular service-learning. This means students engage with more than just communities as part of their coursework; they also do so outside their educational requirements through various outreach activities. In both settings, the focus is the same: to bring their learning to life by serving others.

For UIC students, this approach builds a bridge between theory and practice. It shows them that what they study in class—whether it’s medical sciences, nursing, or business—can directly impact the lives of others. Service becomes more than an obligation; it becomes a way of living.

Guided by Faith, Excellence, and Service

One thing that makes service-learning at UIC special is its deep connection to the university’s core values: faith, excellence, and service. These are not just abstract concepts; they guide everything the students do.

Faith is at the heart of every service-learning activity. Students are encouraged to reflect on how their service deepens their relationship with God and strengthens their faith. Service is the driving force—every act of kindness and community project expresses UIC’s commitment to helping those in need. Excellence ensures that students do their best, not just in academics but also in their engagement with the world.

This alignment of values creates a powerful sense of purpose among UIC students. They see their service as an extension of their faith and their faith as a source of strength in serving others.

A Journey Guided by the RVM Ignacian Pedagogy

At the core of UIC’s approach to service-learning is the RVM Ignacian Pedagogy. This teaching philosophy does not just push students to achieve academic success—it accompanies them on a journey of holistic growth.

In simple terms, students are not just learning facts and figures. They’re being guided to understand themselves, their world, and their place. Through service-learning, they are encouraged to reflect on their experiences and draw meaningful lessons from them, fostering a deeper connection between what they learn and how they live.

This journey is about more than just personal development. It’s about preparing students to be global citizens who care about justice, social harmony, and improving the world.

Faith in Action: Service That Deepens Beliefs

One of the most remarkable aspects of service-learning at UIC is its deepening students’ faith. By stepping into the shoes of those they serve, students begin to see their faith in action. They understand that service is not just something they do—it reflects their spirituality.

Imagine a UIC nursing student caring for patients in an under-resourced community or an education major mentoring children in a rural area. Through these experiences, students witness the transformative power of compassion and generosity. In the process, they grow closer to their faith, finding meaning in every act of kindness and care.

This reflection of faith through action is at the heart of what makes service-learning at UIC so transformative. It’s an opportunity for students to live out their beliefs, see God’s love in their interactions, and strengthen their spiritual foundation.

Aligning with Global Goals: Making a Bigger Impact

UIC’s service-learning is not just about local communities—it’s also about addressing global challenges. Each service-learning project is designed with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG), tackling poverty, education, and environmental sustainability issues.

For example, a service-learning project may promote environmental awareness in local schools, guided by the spirit of Laudato Si, Pope Francis’ call to care for our only home, the planet Earth. These initiatives allow students to think beyond their immediate surroundings and understand their role in addressing global issues. Through this, they are learning how to serve locally and contribute to solving global problems.

The JEEPGY Framework emphasizes justice and peace, ecological integrity, engage citizenship, poverty alleviation, gender equality, and youth empowerment and is crucial in shaping service-learning projects. UIC students are taught to consider these principles in everything they do, ensuring their service is grounded in respect, fairness, and a desire to create positive change.

Shaping Critical Thinkers and Active Citizens

Service-learning at UIC does more than benefit the communities students serve—it transforms the students themselves. Every project they undertake becomes a foundation for critical thinking. They are encouraged to question, reflect, and connect their academic lessons with the realities they encounter in the field.

This process expands their horizons and equips them with the skills needed to tackle complex societal problems. UIC students become more than just learners; they become thinkers, leaders, and advocates for social justice.

The Impact: Transforming Learners into Changemakers

Ultimately, the service-learning program at UIC is about transformation. It takes students on a journey where they grow academically, spiritually, emotionally, and socially. They leave UIC with more than just a degree—they go with a sense of purpose and a commitment to making a difference in the world.

For many UIC students, service-learning is the spark that ignites their passion for social change. Whether they become teachers, nurses, business leaders, or advocates, they carry the values of faith, excellence, and service. They are prepared to succeed in their careers and be changemakers in their communities and beyond.

In every act of service and project completed, UIC students are living proof of how education can change lives when paired with empathy and action. As they continue their journey beyond the university, they take the lessons, values, and experiences that will guide them as they work to create a better world.