Service-learning in the digital environment: online volunteering as a new educational environment (regional aspect)

Relevance. The current stage of educational development is characterized by the search for new formats that bridge the gap between students' theoretical preparation and the demands of the real labor market. A competency-based approach, which involves developing not only knowledge but also skills, abilities, and personal qualities, is becoming dominant.

In this context, the pedagogical technology "Service Learning" is of particular interest, purposefully combining classroom learning with socially beneficial activities. At the same time, the digitalization of all spheres of life has given rise to the phenomenon of online volunteering, which received a powerful boost during the pandemic and continues to actively develop.

The relevance of this study stems from the need for a scientific understanding of the integration of these two trends—the educational methodology of "service-learning" and digital volunteering practices. Analysis of this problem allows us to identify new educational resources and predict the development trajectories of higher education in the context of the emerging digital society.

Purpose. To describe the experience and, based on a scientific understanding of the integration of these two trends—the educational methodology of "service-learning" and digital volunteering practices.

Results. This article examines the innovative educational paradigm of "service-learning" in the context of the digital transformation of society. The focus of the study is on the phenomenon of online volunteering, which is analyzed not only as a socially significant activity but also as an effective pedagogical practice that develops key competencies for the future. Using specific projects in the Lipetsk region as an example, the integration of volunteer initiatives into the educational process of higher education institutions is demonstrated. The authors conclude that the synthesis of digital technologies, volunteer practices, and academic goals creates a powerful resource for the preparation of competitive and socially responsible specialists.

Conclusions. Online volunteering, when integrated with the concept of "service-learning," represents a new, highly effective educational practice. It addresses key challenges in modern education: the need to develop practice-oriented competencies, soft skills, and civic responsibility. The experience of the Lipetsk Region, where specific projects are being implemented at leading universities, clearly demonstrates how the digital environment can transform from a support tool into a fully-fledged educational environment. In this environment, students are not passive recipients of knowledge, but active subjects who, by solving real social problems using digital technologies, undergo an intensive course of professional and personal development. Further development of this area is envisaged in the deeper institutionalization of such practices, their inclusion in core educational programs, and the development of comprehensive assessment methods for developing competencies.

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