Projects with Underserved Communities: Case Study of an International Project-Based Service-Learning Program

Abstract

Many universities are embracing service learning due to the demand by the current generation of students for these types of programs and the opportunity to provide experience with team-building, multidisciplinary work, and cross-cultural communication. In response to student interest, the Cockrell School of Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin developed a curriculum-based program, Projects with Underserved Communities (PUC), in which student teams select, design, and implement projects in rural low-income communities abroad. In contrast to conventional design courses, a design and build program like PUC involves complex team organization, interaction with many stakeholders, and careful selection of a project to optimize the chances of successful implementation. A new course was developed that focused on these issues. In this paper, a case study of PUC is discussed with particular emphasis on the elements of this first course. One team, which worked on a project in Guatemala, is discussed to illustrate how the learning materials are used. Lessons learned from the first 8 years of PUC are presented, as well as results of a participant survey on skills acquired.