The Community-Based Education Program is a new approach to experiential learning. Through this program, university and college students are matched with community organizations in the Haliburton area to assist them with research, planning, or community service and development projects. While earning course credit, students are able to gain practical experience in their field of study and help to solve current challenges in the community.
Our Partners: U-Links co-delivers the Community-Based Education (CBE) program with Trent University. U-Links facilitates projects largely within Haliburton County and its surrounding areas, whereas the Trent University facilitates projects in Peterborough city and County.
What is Community Based Research? Community-based research (CBR) is the collection, organization, and analysis of information to answer a question that is of interest to members of the community. This information could be of a historic, scientific, social, demographic, economic, or environmental nature. Community-based research helps the community learn more about itself and assists with making informed decisions. Project Placements can be either research or service focused, or a combination of the two
The CBR Process: •U-Links helps host organizations design a project/placement and write a proposal. •Once developed, the proposal is then promoted by U-Links staff to students and faculty at Trent University •A student interested in doing research or service for academic credit and with the relevant skill set is “matched” to a project. •The student, host organization, supervising professor, and U-Links all work together to complete the proposed project (click for project proposal form), which Includes the development of a detailed Project Agreement that covers the details (i.e. timelines, deliverables) of the placement. •Once the agreement has been negotiated and signed by all parties, the student carries out the research. •All reports and findings produced through the CBR program are made available to the public through the Haliburton County Collection, housed at the U-Links Centre.
What is Community Service Learning? Community Service Learning (CSL) is a form of experiential education that aims to achieve immediate outcomes for the community, while facilitating student learning. Projects are practical in nature and increase an organization’s capacity to achieve a targeted goal (e.g. completing an event, survey, or activity). This is a great option for organizations looking for a shorter engagement (10-25 hours) and a larger number of students.
The CSL Process: •U-Links helps host organizations design a project/placement and write a proposal (click forCSL project proposal form). •Once developed, the proposal is then promoted by U-Links staff to students (usually a full class) and faculty at Trent University •A group of student interested in doing the service for academic credit and with the relevant skill set is “matched” to a project. •Once the agreement has been negotiated and necessary form filled in and signed by all parties, the students carries out the research.
U-Links has become a significant and well-respected community resource and has facilitated hundreds of projects across the County. U-Links is a non-profit organization that welcomes financial contributions to help support ongoing community-based research efforts. Your contribution is very much appreciated!