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International Service-Learning Projects on Water Sustainable Management in Higher Education: A Case Study on Improving Water Quality in a Needy Community

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Title: International Service-Learning Projects on Water Sustainable Management in Higher Education: A Case Study on Improving Water Quality in a Needy Community
Language: English
Authors: Ling-Tim Wong, Kwok-Wai Mui, Dadi Zhang
Source: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 2026 27(3):625-646.
Availability: Emerald Publishing Limited. Howard House, Wagon Lane, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1WA, UK. Tel: +44-1274-777700; Fax: +44-1274-785201; e-mail: emerald@emeraldinsight.com; Web site: http://www.emerald.com/insight
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 22
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Service Learning, Sustainability, Water Quality, International Programs, Outcomes of Education, Undergraduate Students, Student Development, Citizen Participation
Geographic Terms: Hong Kong, Cambodia
DOI: 10.1108/IJSHE-03-2024-0186
ISSN: 1467-6370
1758-6739
Abstract: Purpose: The first aim of this paper was to discuss the learning experience of university students who participated in a service-learning project on sustainable water management. By investigating the students' engagement in a real-world, community-based project, this study also aimed to provide insights into the effectiveness of service-learning as a pedagogical approach for sustainable development education. Design/methodology/approach: This paper presented a service-learning project organized by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University on improving water quality in low-income communities. An overview of the project was provided, including the curriculum design, project contents, implementation process, as well as students' assessments, evaluation and feedback. Based on students' assessments, the outcomes and impacts of this project were discussed. Additionally, several barriers were identified during this project, and corresponding suggestions were proposed to improve the service quality and increase its positive impacts. Findings: The students established 12 water filtration systems to improve the water quality in a needy village overseas. Apart from the benefits to the service recipients, the participating students experienced personal development and civic engagement measured in 10 aspects, including the application of classroom learning, adaptive problem-solving, creative thinking, community contribution, commitment to helping the disadvantaged, empathy and compassion, concern for those in need, moral commitment to civic affairs, multi-perspective analysis and informed decision-making. Originality/value: Although the recorded project was not the first international service-learning project on water sustainable management, to the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first time that the whole procedure of the service-learning project was documented as a compulsory credit-bearing subject in Hong Kong universities. With the water sustainability project example, this paper shows how to integrate service-learning subjects into university curricula and what benefits and challenges they could bring.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1503592
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: International Service-Learning Projects on Water Sustainable Management in Higher Education: A Case Study on Improving Water Quality in a Needy Community
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  Label: Language
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  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ling-Tim+Wong%22">Ling-Tim Wong</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kwok-Wai+Mui%22">Kwok-Wai Mui</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Dadi+Zhang%22">Dadi Zhang</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22International+Journal+of+Sustainability+in+Higher+Education%22"><i>International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education</i></searchLink>. 2026 27(3):625-646.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Emerald Publishing Limited. Howard House, Wagon Lane, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1WA, UK. Tel: +44-1274-777700; Fax: +44-1274-785201; e-mail: emerald@emeraldinsight.com; Web site: http://www.emerald.com/insight
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 22
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research<br />Tests/Questionnaires
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  Label: Education Level
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Service+Learning%22">Service Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sustainability%22">Sustainability</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Water+Quality%22">Water Quality</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22International+Programs%22">International Programs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Outcomes+of+Education%22">Outcomes of Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Undergraduate+Students%22">Undergraduate Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Development%22">Student Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Citizen+Participation%22">Citizen Participation</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hong+Kong%22">Hong Kong</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cambodia%22">Cambodia</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1108/IJSHE-03-2024-0186
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 1467-6370<br />1758-6739
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Purpose: The first aim of this paper was to discuss the learning experience of university students who participated in a service-learning project on sustainable water management. By investigating the students' engagement in a real-world, community-based project, this study also aimed to provide insights into the effectiveness of service-learning as a pedagogical approach for sustainable development education. Design/methodology/approach: This paper presented a service-learning project organized by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University on improving water quality in low-income communities. An overview of the project was provided, including the curriculum design, project contents, implementation process, as well as students' assessments, evaluation and feedback. Based on students' assessments, the outcomes and impacts of this project were discussed. Additionally, several barriers were identified during this project, and corresponding suggestions were proposed to improve the service quality and increase its positive impacts. Findings: The students established 12 water filtration systems to improve the water quality in a needy village overseas. Apart from the benefits to the service recipients, the participating students experienced personal development and civic engagement measured in 10 aspects, including the application of classroom learning, adaptive problem-solving, creative thinking, community contribution, commitment to helping the disadvantaged, empathy and compassion, concern for those in need, moral commitment to civic affairs, multi-perspective analysis and informed decision-making. Originality/value: Although the recorded project was not the first international service-learning project on water sustainable management, to the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first time that the whole procedure of the service-learning project was documented as a compulsory credit-bearing subject in Hong Kong universities. With the water sustainability project example, this paper shows how to integrate service-learning subjects into university curricula and what benefits and challenges they could bring.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1503592
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        Value: 10.1108/IJSHE-03-2024-0186
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 22
        StartPage: 625
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Service Learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sustainability
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      – SubjectFull: Water Quality
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      – SubjectFull: International Programs
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      – SubjectFull: Outcomes of Education
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      – SubjectFull: Undergraduate Students
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      – SubjectFull: Student Development
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      – SubjectFull: Citizen Participation
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      – SubjectFull: Hong Kong
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      – SubjectFull: Cambodia
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      – TitleFull: International Service-Learning Projects on Water Sustainable Management in Higher Education: A Case Study on Improving Water Quality in a Needy Community
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