Evaluation by levels of the impact of the service-learning curricular strategy at the National Open and Distance University of Colombia

Abstract

The evaluation of the impact of educational programmes is an essential element of public management, triggering internal and external improvements in the organisation's educational activities. Its focus on continuous improvement seeks to measure how the programme has met the needs of students, graduates, the university, and the wider community. This analysis focuses on UNAD's service-learning curriculum strategy, the Sistema de Servicio Social Unadista (SISSU). A mixed-methods research design was used, with quantitative evaluation through Likert scales and qualitative evaluation through interviews and focus groups. The analysis was developed using a phenomenological matrix and descriptive semantic analysis, resulting in innovative proposals for key areas such as critical analysis, relevance, social interaction, and organisational management and foresight. A transformative approach is incorporated, considering elements such as transfer, observable results and return on investment (ROI). As an organisational tool, the SISSU drives the e-community and promotes social solidarity participation to strengthen knowledge management and transformative leadership. With 44,789 providers since 2016, 34,976 students in formative research and 75 programmes articulated through 486 SISSU courses, the device is supported by mechanisms such as the management of social services, the SISSU route, the Common Basic Interdisciplinary Course Fundamentals and Generalities of Research and Community Life from the Regional Intersystemic Observatory, generating a significant impact on training and transformational leadership.