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Tackling invasions through service-learning activities in higher education
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21720562 |
|---|---|
| Authors | María J Servia (0000-0001-8503-5357, Universidade da Coruña), Anxo Cao (Universidade da Coruña), Yaiza R Lueje (0000-0003-4933-1735, Universidade da Coruña) |
| Year | 2020 |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue | 7 |
| Pages | 1413-1427 |
| Publication date | 2020-10-19 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1467-6370 • E-ISSN: 1758-6739 |
| Publisher | Emerald (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1108/ijshe-02-2020-0059 |
| OpenAlex | W3094000017 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 43 |
Purpose Invasive species are under the spotlight because of their detrimental effects on biodiversity. However, management of invasions presents multiple dimensions frequently difficult to disentangle. This complex topic has been tackled through a service-learning project on an invasive insect ( Vespa velutina ), a bee-eating species invading Europe. Specifically, this paper aims to assess the educational needs and motivations detected in a local population for the control of V. velutina , and evaluate the educational achievements of students participating in the project. Design/methodology/approach The paper illustrates how students prepared the service activity, which consisted in a quiz and interviews to public in a honey festival located in an area that has invested heavily in the control of the hornet. They informed visitors on its biology and impacts, and collected information on visitors’ knowledge and attitudes towards the hornet. This information was taken back to the class and discussed in an open debate. Findings The service activity uncovered important knowledge gaps of the local population and revealed the attachment to controversial control methods. Students acknowledged that the project met a real community need and valued the contact with the public, and the presentation of the project in the Faculty favored a debate on invasions management and biodiversity protection under the framework of campus sustainability. Originality/value While students are familiar with actions on campus sustainability, they are seldom confronted with the evaluation of management decisions on complex topics involving multiple dimensions. This service-learning project showed a good potential for fostering in-depth debates and promoting student engagement in campus sustainable initiatives
Biology · Business · Environmental education · Environmental resource management · Originality · Pedagogy · Political science · Population · Public relations · Public service · Qualitative research · Service-learning · Social science · Sociology · Sustainability · Animal and Plant Science Education · Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior · Insect Utilization and Effects · Ecology · Marketing
Perspectives of scholars on the nature of sustainability
Sustainability science and the university
The impact of on-site educational outreach on recreational users’ perceptions of aquatic invasive species and their management
Integrating problem- and project-based learning opportunities
The progress of interdisciplinarity in invasion science
Conceptual Frameworks and Methods for Advancing Invasion Ecology
Staff perceptions on pigeon control strategies on the University of South Africa's Muckleneuk campus
Invasive Narratives and the Inverse of Slow Violence
| Citations per year | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2025 - 2025 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |