Service-learning: An approach to disaster risk reduction in engineering education

The students entering higher education today are part of a new generation (millennials), for which the traditional teaching strategies fail in delivering the expected learning outcomes. In this light, innovation is needed in the teaching strategies applied, in order to boost their motivation. This paper presents a case study on the incorporation of the Service-Learning methodology (SL) into the Risk Management course at the Construction Engineering School at PUCV in which the Risk Management and Reduction Program for Vulnerable Schools is implemented. Since incorporation of the SL methodology, the results of the teaching-learning process have improved considerably, achieving a high motivation and commitment from the students in the process of formal learning as well as in the service activity performed.