Bethlehem University continues to make its voice heard on the international stage of service-learning. On 20 August 2025, faculty members Mr. Layth R. Awwad and Ms. Ruba Ayyad, of the English Department, presented virtually at the VII Service-Learning Researchers’ Symposium (JIAS). The symposium formed part of the 22nd International Service-Learning Week, hosted by CLAYSS in Buenos Aires, Argentina, which brought together educators, researchers, and practitioners from around the globe to explore the transformative role of service-learning in higher education.
Their joint research, “Service Learning in Wartime: Solidarity and Spirituality at Bethlehem University”, showcased how Bethlehem University students and faculty creatively engage in service-learning during times of conflict. The case study highlighted projects that connected academic learning with solidarity and spirituality, empowering students to respond to the challenges faced by Palestinian society.
Guiding 55 English major students, the faculty members encouraged the design and implementation of service-learning campaigns that linked academic learning with urgent community needs. Campaigns addressed pressing issues including mental health, environmental sustainability, and social justice. Students not only produced awareness projects, but also created spaces of dialogue, reflection, and solidarity that extended beyond the classroom.
The presentation was warmly received at JIAS, where colleagues from around the world recognized the resilience of Bethlehem University’s students and faculty. Though travel restrictions prevented in-person attendance, the virtual format ensured that the voices of Bethlehem University and its students could still contribute to this vital international conversation.
Bethlehem University’s participation in the JIAS Symposium underlines its commitment to integrating service-learning into higher education, not only as a pedagogy for academic excellence, but as a framework for building solidarity, spirituality, and hope in challenging times. By engaging students in campaigns that bridge theory and practice, the university continues to embody its Lasallian mission of educating for justice, peace, and transformation.
