Across universities, we often face similar questions when designing and delivering social responsibility and volunteering programmes for students. How do we effectively reach and motivate diverse groups of students? What selection criteria and processes are fair, transparent, and aligned with programme goals? How can we assess student readiness, commitment, and learning without turning the process into a bureaucratic checklist? And what evaluation approaches can help improve programme quality while also supporting student development?
This USRN Online Forum, held in collaboration with The Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s 4th EVOLVE: Global Engagement and Student Development Salon, aims to bring together fellow USRN member institutions to share insights, best practices, and perspectives on engaging, selecting, and supporting students in university social responsibility and volunteering programmes. Through the exchange of practical models and real-world examples, the Forum will provide an opportunity to reflect on approaches that can enhance the quality and educational impact of universities’ community engagement initiatives.