THE ROLE OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS IN THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS OF HIGHER EDUCATION OF THE USA

Abstract

The article is devoted to the peculiarities of cooperation between universities and community organizations in the system of higher education of the USA. The essence of the concept of academic service-learning as an innovative pedagogical strategy which involves students into meaningful social activities during learning process is studied. The emphasis is given to a partnership between universities and community organizations as an integral element of academic service-learning programs. Advantages of such partnership for universities, students, and communities are determined. Students receive an opportunity to improve critical thinking skills, integrate theory and practice, improve communication skills, be involved in the problems of their communities. Community organizations help students in learning and cultivate conscious and responsible young people who contribute to the development of civil society; as well as those who can do various kinds of work on the proper level without a payment. Community organizations are motivated by the desire to provide a valuable learning experience for students and benefit from the students. Accordingly, during creating programs of academic service-learning the needs of both students and community organizations must be taken into account. In the article such notions as nonprofit organization, non-governmental organizations, community organizations, whose work contributes to the development of a democratic society, are examined. In the USA there are a lot of nonprofit and non-governmental organizations which support students’ learning in communities, such as Youth Service America, Campus Compact, American Association for Higher Education and Accreditation, The Council of Independent Colleges, National Youth Leadership Council, National Service-Learning Clearinghouse. These organizations support programs of academic service-learning providing necessary technical and electronic learning resources; giving financial grants; participating in national conferences and helping in publishing research articles; conducting conferences, seminars and workshops; assisting in the creating academic service-learning programs.