An empirical study of service-learning outcomes in business education through humanistic perspectives

Department/Unit

Center for Social Concern and Action

Document Type

Article

Source Title

International Journal of Management Education

Volume

24

First Page

101363

Publication Date

2023

Abstract

This empirical study examines how service-learning develops humanistic management competencies among undergraduate business students. Using thematic analysis of 575 student reflections and articles from a business course in the Philippines, we identify interconnected pathways between service-learning applications and humanistic outcomes. Analysis highlights six key applications: experiential learning, community partnerships, capacity building, civic engagement, and reflective practice, that lead to six outcomes: personal empowerment, ethical leadership, social impact, professional competencies, economic sustainability, and collaborative relationships. The strongest connections were found between experiential learning and personal empowerment, as well as between community partnerships and ethical leadership. However, reflective practice displayed unexpectedly weak connections to outcomes, which challenges existing theoretical beliefs. Limitations include the lack of community partner perspectives, a cross-sectional design that prevents long-term evaluation, and the specific institutional context that may limit generalization. Despite these limitations, the findings suggest that service-learning can reorient business education from a profit-driven to a human-centered approach when applied with genuine reciprocity and critical frameworks. Future research should focus on community voices and long-term impact assessment.

html

Disciplines

Service Learning

Keywords

Service learning

Upload File

wf_no

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS