Abstract—This international service learning project aimed
to enhance post-disaster living environment and sustainable
community development while enhancing student’s learning
experience and developing desirable graduate attributes. A total
of 40 undergraduate and postgraduate students from multiple
disciplines participated in this project. Pre-trip preparation
workshops were organized according to four key themes,
namely 1) water supply, 2) wastewater treatment, 3) health and
safety education, and 4) GPS mapping. During the stay in Nepal,
the students conducted GPS surveying, water supply mapping,
health and hygiene teaching, toilet and house rebuilding projects,
family visits, engagement activities, as well as cultural exchange
workshops. Both qualitative and quantitative assessments were
given to students at different programme stages, including
reflective journals, questionnaires, and group interviews.
Students’ learning outcomes are holistically evaluated under
scope of academic learning, service experience, and personal
development. The results suggest that realisation of global
citizenship, understanding local context and problems,
application of engineering knowledge in real-life situation, and
interpersonal communication skills in a culturally diversified
environment were the most significant learning outcomes. We
compared the feedback of this voluntary programme with those
of mandatory programmes, and highlighted the similarities and
discrepancies for the purpose of enhancing students’
experiential learning in future programmes.
Index Terms—Environmental iimprovement, international
service learning, experiential learning, sustainable development,
global citizenship, self-directed learner.
The authors are with the Department of Civil and Environmental
Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon,
Hong Kong, China (corresponding author: Daniel C. W. Tsang; e-mail:
dan.tsang@polyu.edu.hk).
Cite: Daniel C. W. Tsang, Lu B. L. Khoo, Iris K. M. Yu, and Nicole S. N. Yiu, "International Service Learning Project on Environmental Improvement and Sustainable Development for Nepal Earthquake Relief," International Journal of Information and Education Technology vol. 8, no. 12, pp. 897-903, 2018.