The Role of University President in Institutionalisation of Service Learning in Higher Education
Citation: Selvam, S.G. (2023). The Role of University President in Institutionalisation of Service Learning in Higher Education. In Chantal J., et al. Institutionalization of Service-Learning in Higher Education, (pp.199-219). Buenos Aires: CLAYSS.
Abstract
Service Learning (SL) is understood as a reciprocal relationship between the learners and the beneficiaries of a social engagement initiative run by the learners, in which the learners are accompanied by the lecturer to integrate the encounter into their mainstream learning by means of systematic reflection. This method of teaching and learning is becoming a common phenomenon in institutions of higher education across the globe. In order to make it sustainable, the initiatives and processes around SL need to be institutionalised. The aim of this book-chapter is to reflect on the role of the University President in the implementation […]
Author: selvam
Sermon for 5th Sunday of Easter – Year A Homily
5th Sunday of Easter – Year A
Service at Table and Service of the Word (Acts 6:1-7)
In the first reading of today we have an interesting story of conflict resolution in the early church. Earlier in the Acts of the Apostles we read (Acts 4:32-35): “The whole group of believers was united, heart and soul; no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, as everything they owned was held in common.”
Soon, this ideal communal life was threatened by selfishness of individuals and clannish mentality among groups (see Acts 5). In Chapter 6, as we heard in the first reading of today, we have a story of neglect of the minority group in the access to the resources of the community. Hebrews, of course, being the majority in the community in Jerusalem, and priding themselves […]
Sermon for 4th Sunday of Easter – Year A Homily
Jesus, the Shepherd, is the Gate to Abundant Life (Jn 10:1-10)
Every year, the 4th Sunday of Easter is celebrated as the Good Shepherd Sunday and Vocations Sunday. Each year, for the gospel reading, we hear one part of John 10. This year, being Year A, we listen to the first part of that chapter. We reflect on the ‘pastoral’ love (Shepherd’s love) of God made visible in Jesus, as we also pray for vocations to priesthood; priests are the ‘pastors’ of the church.
In the gospel text of today, Jesus makes two more of his “I am” statements: “I am the Gate” (Jn 10:9), and “I am the good shepherd” (Jn 10:11). Let us reflect on these two themes.
I am the Gate: This seems a strange analogy. Let us look at it in some detail to get a deeper meaning of […]
Sermon for the 3rd Sunday of Easter – Cycle A Homily
The Eucharist at Emmaus (Lk 24:13-35)
As is the case often, there are several possible reflections on the gospel text of today. I would like to suggest that Lk 24:13-35 bears resemblance to the Eucharistic liturgy that we celebrate in the Roman Rite.
Allow me to begin with a story, adapted from Margaret Silf’s Wayfarer:
Nicholas had worked for twenty-six years for the same company. Then he was made redundant. By the time his day of departure arrived, most of his immediate colleagues had gone ahead of him into the streets of uncertainty. The smell of redundancy is a bit like the smell of death. No one wants to get too close to it. Perhaps we are afraid that it may be contagious. On his last working day, Nicholas was alone in the office. […]
Sermon for 2nd Sunday of Easter – Homily
From a Communitarian faith to a Personal Experience of Jesus
Today, as we conclude the octave of Easter – eight day celebration of this great feast – the Gospel passage of today concludes the series of events that we heard read on the morning of Easter, eight days ago. John 20: 1-10 was the Gospel of the liturgy of the Easter morning. It narrated to us how Mary Magdalene went to the tomb, found it empty and came to tell the apostles. On hearing this Peter and the Beloved disciple ran to the tomb, they saw the empty tomb and the linen; and the Beloved Disciple believed in the resurrection. The following section of the gospel of John (20:11-18), the one about Jesus’ appearance to Mary Magdalene was read during liturgy on Tuesday. Today we heard read the remaining sections […]