Winter Workshop “Service Learning — 2025” in Kazan with the Participation of RepLab
On December 26 in Kazan, at the Public Chamber of the Republic of Tatarstan, the traditional Winter Workshop “Service Learning — 2025” was held, bringing together representatives of public authorities, the academic community, the non-profit sector, and student teams.
On December 26 in Kazan, at the Public Chamber of the Republic of Tatarstan, the traditional Winter Workshop “Service Learning — 2025” was held with the active participation of RepLab and the international SatLab network. The event brought together representatives of government bodies, academia, the nonprofit sector, and student teams.
Participants included the Deputy Minister for Youth Affairs of the Republic of Tatarstan, the Chair and members of the Public Chamber of the Republic of Tatarstan, leaders of nonprofit organizations, university faculty, and student teams. The program was moderated by Varvara Y. Kulkova, PhD in Economics, expert and coordinator of the Service Learning program of the Public Chamber of the Republic of Tatarstan, Professor at Kazan State Power Engineering University, and Chief Expert of the Laboratory for Reputation Management in Education at HSE University (St. Petersburg). Her moderation ensured strategic and methodological coherence of the discussions and effectively bridged the academic, civic, and governance dimensions of the program.
The Workshop’s keynote speaker was Dr. Magdalena Gaete, Head of the Project-Based Learning Laboratory “Reputation Management in Education” at HSE University (St. Petersburg) and author of the Service Learning methodology. In her keynote address and in the expert session “Faculty Motivation in Implementing Service Learning and the University’s Social Mission,” she presented an analytical perspective on faculty as a central determinant of the quality and long-term sustainability of Service Learning.
Dr. Gaete emphasized that Service Learning cannot be implemented solely through administrative mandates, as it is not a technical teaching tool but a profound transformation of the faculty role. In this model, faculty serve as architects of the learning process, mediators between the university and community partners, mentors of student project work, and reflective practitioners who assess both educational and social outcomes. Particular attention was given to faculty motivation, including value-based commitment, professional development, and institutional recognition through workload allocation, evaluation, and career pathways.
In recognition of her contribution to the development of the Service Learning program and her expert support of universities in the Republic of Tatarstan, Dr. Gaete received a letter of appreciation from the Chair of the Public Chamber of the Republic of Tatarstan.
The Workshop also featured presentations of leading Service Learning projects implemented by universities across the Republic of Tatarstan. Participants showcased initiatives addressing pressing social challenges and received expert feedback from partner organizations. Special emphasis was placed on project sustainability, the quality of social impact, and the institutional integration of these initiatives into university curricula.
The Winter Workshop “Service Learning — 2025” once again affirmed its role as a significant professional platform for sharing best practices, strengthening cross-sector partnerships, and critically reflecting on the social mission of the contemporary university.
As part of the Workshop, the most successful Service Learning projects implemented by universities of the Republic of Tatarstan were presented. Participants showcased initiatives aimed at addressing pressing social challenges and received expert feedback from partner organizations. Particular attention was given to project sustainability, the quality of social impact, and the institutional integration of these initiatives into university curricula.
The Winter Workshop “Service Learning — 2025” once again reaffirmed its role as a significant professional platform for the exchange of best practices, the strengthening of cross-sector partnerships, and critical reflection on the social mission of the contemporary university.
