The study is considered the first to examine service -learning partnerships in a private university in Egypt through mainly giving the opportunity to community partners to express their perspectives. The study recognized the importance of the value of service-learning programs to the university, students and community partners. This study focused on giving a voice to community partners who are a part of the experience of service-learning partnerships through service-learning courses. The study attempted to provide if not the whole perspective but a glimpse of the community partners’ perspectives of the service-learning partnerships and its benefits to their organizations and the community. Mixed methods of quantitative and qualitative were used.
The study results suggest that the community partners gained direct and indirect benefits during the work with the university students as a part of the service-learning program. The general findings of this study suggest that service-learning partnerships with community partners are a progressive partnership that can be developed with time and efforts. The possibility of achieving an effective partnership was demonstrated by community partners’ positive attitudes and willing to work with the university students through service- learning courses despite challenges that were faced during the experience. Changes were suggested to the current practices of campus, professors and students related to areas of communication and collaboration with the community partners while taking into consideration the mutual benefits, course-duration, students readiness to conduct community work, and methods to support the sustainability of the partnerships.
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Appendices
Appendix A- Approval of IRB for Interviews
CASE #2014-2015-162 To: Eman Motawi
Cc: Eman Abaza
From: Atta Gebril, Chair of the IRB Date: June 20 , 2015
Re: Approval of study
This is to inform you that I reviewed your research proposal entitled “Examination of Service- Learning Partnerships: The Case of a Private University in Egypt” and determined that it
required consultation with the IRB under the "expedited" heading. The proposal used appropriate procedures to minimize risks to human subjects and that adequate provision was made for
confidentiality and data anonymity of participants in any published record. I believe you will also make adequate provision for obtaining informed consent of the participants.
This approval letter was issued under the assumption that you have not started data collection for your research project. Any data collected before receiving this letter could not be used since this is a violation of the IRB policy.
Please note that IRB approval does not automatically ensure approval by CAPMAS, an Egyptian government agency responsible for approving some types of off-campus research. CAPMAS issues are handled at AUC by the office of the University Counsellor, Dr. Amr Salama. The IRB is not in a position to offer any opinion on CAPMAS issues, and takes no responsibility for obtaining CAPMAS approval.
This approval is valid for only one year. In case you have not finished data collection within a year, you need to apply for an extension.
Thank you and good luck.
Dr. Atta Gebril
IRB chair, The American University in Cairo 2046 HUSS Building
T: 02-26151919
Email: [email protected]
Institutional Review Board The American University in Cairo AUC Avenue, P.O. Box 74
New Cairo 11835, Egypt. tel 20.2.2615.1000 fax 20.2.27957565
Appendix B- Consent form
Documentation of Informed Consent for Participation in Research Study
Thesis Title: Examination of Service- Learning Partnerships: The Case of a Private University in Egypt
Principal Investigator: Eman Motawi
email:[email protected]
You are being asked to participate in a research study as part of a Master’s thesis. The purpose of the research is to examine the sustainability and effectiveness of Service- learning partnerships at the American University in Egypt. The study will investigate the perceived impact of service learning on students, community partners, and the community. The findings may be published and presented to highlight what value service-learning is bringing to the partners’ organizations and to offer recommendations for improvement.
The expected duration of your participation is approximately 1 hour. The procedures of the interview will be as follows: you will be asked some questions and the interview will be recorded, so the researcher does not miss any comments. Participants often say very helpful comments during the interview and the researcher cannot write fast enough to get them all down. The recording is not going to start without your approval. Audio files will be destroyed after they are no longer needed for analysis or publication.
The information you provide for purposes of this research will be confidential. The information given by all the interviewees will be analyzed together to develop general conclusions, and your personal identification will not be mentioned in any publications or associated with any quotations taken from your interview.
There are no risks associated with this research. There are no direct or tangible benefits to you or to your organization from this interview. However, your participation will help in understanding the benefits and areas of improvement of service-learning experiences.
In case you need more clarification or you have any questions please do not hesitant to contact the researcher.
Participation in this study is voluntary. Refusal to participate will involve no penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled. You may discontinue participation at any time without penalty or the loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled.
Signature ________________________________________ Printed Name ________________________________________ Date ________________________________________
Appendix C- Interview questions Semi-Structured Interview Questions
Thank you for taking the time to speak with me today. We will begin the interview talking in general about the partnership you have had with AUC professors / community organizations. Next, we will talk specifically about the projects done by the students. Finally, we will discuss recommendations for improving community based learning.
1. Examining Partnership Practices:
❖ What are the characteristics of an effective university-community organization partnership?
❖ How was your partnership established? When did that happen?
❖ How would you describe your current relationship with AUC/ community organization partners?
❖ What is the role of the university professors / community partner in the partnership? ❖ How does the university support your ability to effectively partner with professors/
organizations?
❖ What are some positives and negatives of this relationship with AUC/NGOs? ❖ How do you measure your current partnership’s effectiveness?
2. Executed Projects and Organizational Sustainability:
❖ What has been your general experience with the university students that work with your organization as part of a requirement for class?
❖ In what ways do students benefit from community partnerships?
❖ How does your experience with the service-learning students differ from other types