Gleaming with fresh repairs, the school awaits the youth,
New tiles along the hallways all bright and clean and smooth.
With desks lined orderly, rooms smell of paint pristine.
The journey starts, September tiptoes softly in…
September is here once again. And once again, there is no escaping the excitement, joys, sorrows, hopes, conversations, and thoughts all revolving around the subject of education. Not that we tried too hard to stay aloof. The focus of this issue is on the third mission of universities, a topic that has gained significant prominence in Russia since September 1, 2023. Over a hundred universities throughout the country have adopted the “Service Learning” program this academic year. While the term “service” has many meanings, in this specific context it pertains to the seamless integration of initiatives aimed at effecting positive societal changes, enacted by the students themselves and in the best interests of the student community. Inspired by the successful integration of similar initiatives worldwide, Russia decided to adopt its own “Service Learning” program.
However, we’ve chosen to delve deeper into the subject and explore the multifaceted roles that universities play in fostering positive changes – from acting as hubs for regional development and incubators of innovative ideas to fulfilling numerous other vital functions encapsulated within the somewhat enigmatic-sounding third mission. Interestingly, the very definition of this term is still a work in progress, which is why a phenomenological approach is so prevalent, where the “experience of understanding consciousness” precedes the theoretical grasp of the phenomenon. As a result, this issue offers a wealth of practical descriptions, examples, and case studies illustrating “how things are done here.”
We are delighted to invite our readers on an enthralling journey to understand the mission of creating social impact through the resources and tools of higher education.