International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences

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Students and Communities: Evaluating the Mutual Benefits of Service-Learning Project in a Social Media Branding Course

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In the dynamic landscape of higher education, the integration of service-learning has emerged as a cornerstone for fostering holistic student development while contributing to community empowerment. This study evaluates the influence of a Social Media Branding course on students' service-learning experiences and the reciprocal benefits experienced by community partners. Employing qualitative document and thematic analyses, the study explores how students perceive the course’s impact on their engagement with service-learning projects and how communities evaluate the outcomes. The findings highlight that student gained a heightened awareness of the practical application of theoretical concepts, applying social media branding strategies to address real-world organizational challenges. This process bridged the gap between theory and practice, significantly enhancing their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Equally important, feedback from communities underscored the tangible benefits of the projects, including improved organizational branding and increased community engagement. These insights offer valuable implications for curriculum design, emphasizing the dual benefits of service-learning for students and community partners, and highlight the transformative potential of experiential learning within higher education.
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