Fostering Civic Education and Soft Skills in Secondary Students through College-Led Cross-Age Peer Tutoring in Community Service Settings
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| Title: | Fostering Civic Education and Soft Skills in Secondary Students through College-Led Cross-Age Peer Tutoring in Community Service Settings |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Yui-yip Lau (ORCID |
| Source: | Education & Training. 2026 68(4):483-500. |
| 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: | 18 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Secondary Education Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Civics, Citizenship Education, Soft Skills, Secondary School Students, College Students, Cross Age Teaching, Peer Teaching, Tutoring, Service Learning, Skill Development, Foreign Countries |
| Geographic Terms: | Hong Kong |
| DOI: | 10.1108/ET-07-2025-0556 |
| ISSN: | 0040-0912 1758-6127 |
| Abstract: | Purpose: This study intends to examine the effectiveness of developing secondary students' soft skills and civic awareness via a unique college-led service-learning programmes. Design/methodology/approach: A mixed-methods approach incorporates a pre-test and a post-test with secondary students, along with semi-structured in-depth interviews with the students, teachers and service providers. Findings: After attending the unique college-led service-learning programmes, the secondary students show the most improved skills, including proactiveness, positive thinking, stress tolerance and time management. As such, these results suggest that participants benefited most in areas related to mindset, stress management, time management and proactiveness. The secondary students perform moderately, including communication skills, problem-solving and leadership skills. Research limitations/implications: This result creates constructive guidelines for educators and secondary schools on how to enhance the quality of these civic education programmes for the future. Originality/value: These research findings help to explain and forecast the evolution of civic education and soft skills in secondary school education. Also, valuable suggestions on how to design and implement community service programmes into civic education in the secondary school curriculum are provided. Although the demand for civic education continues to increase, its roles in secondary education remain relatively ambiguous. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1506139 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Purpose: This study intends to examine the effectiveness of developing secondary students' soft skills and civic awareness via a unique college-led service-learning programmes. Design/methodology/approach: A mixed-methods approach incorporates a pre-test and a post-test with secondary students, along with semi-structured in-depth interviews with the students, teachers and service providers. Findings: After attending the unique college-led service-learning programmes, the secondary students show the most improved skills, including proactiveness, positive thinking, stress tolerance and time management. As such, these results suggest that participants benefited most in areas related to mindset, stress management, time management and proactiveness. The secondary students perform moderately, including communication skills, problem-solving and leadership skills. Research limitations/implications: This result creates constructive guidelines for educators and secondary schools on how to enhance the quality of these civic education programmes for the future. Originality/value: These research findings help to explain and forecast the evolution of civic education and soft skills in secondary school education. Also, valuable suggestions on how to design and implement community service programmes into civic education in the secondary school curriculum are provided. Although the demand for civic education continues to increase, its roles in secondary education remain relatively ambiguous. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0040-0912 1758-6127 |
| DOI: | 10.1108/ET-07-2025-0556 |
