Deze pagina is momenteel enkel beschikbaar in het Engels. Within the RUN-EU Ready to Service (RETOS) programme, Howest is committed to bringing education closer to societal needs through Service-Learning. This educational approach combines academic learning with meaningful community engagement, allowing students to apply their knowledge and skills to real societal challenges while creating value for external partners and local communities.Service-Learning is one of the key pillars of RETOS, alongside volunteer opportunities and the RUN-EU Portal of Opportunities. Through these initiatives, students gain hands-on experience, strengthen their civic engagement, and develop the skills needed to become responsible professionals and active citizens. A Cross-Border Service-Learning Partnership One of Howest's first international Service-Learning initiatives within RUN-EU brought together students from Howest and NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences around the theme of financial literacy.The project united students from different disciplines and countries to explore how they could contribute to improving financial literacy among vulnerable groups. As part of the first edition, students travelled across borders, worked with local stakeholders, and visited community organisations such as Netwerkcentrum Leeuwarden and Amaryllis in the Netherlands, gaining first-hand insight into the realities faced by people experiencing social and financial challenges.By engaging directly with community partners, students learned how professional expertise can contribute to addressing real societal needs while developing a broader understanding of social inclusion, vulnerability, and community support. Building on Success: A Second Edition Following the positive experience of the first edition, the collaboration entered a second cycle.Once again, Finance & Insurance students from Howest and Social Work students from NHL Stenden joined forces to explore the challenge of financial literacy among disadvantaged groups. This time, students were introduced to a range of topics that helped them better understand the broader context in which financial vulnerability occurs.Expert sessions on cybersecurity, addiction, and social vulnerability challenged students to step outside their usual academic perspectives and engage with realities that may be far removed from their own daily lives.An important contribution came from OCMW Brugge, whose staff provided an interactive introduction to their work and the challenges they encounter in supporting citizens facing financial and social difficulties. This direct connection with practice helped students see how financial literacy intersects with a range of societal issues and how different professional perspectives can contribute to meaningful solutions. Learning Across Disciplines, Countries, and Communities A defining feature of Service-Learning is the opportunity to work beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries.By bringing together students from Finance & Insurance and Social Work, the project encourages participants to combine different forms of expertise in addressing complex societal challenges. At the same time, the international collaboration between Howest and NHL Stenden allows students to learn from different educational systems, cultural perspectives, and professional approaches.Through collaboration with community partners, students develop not only subject-specific knowledge but also essential transversal skills such as teamwork, communication, critical reflection, empathy, problem-solving, and intercultural competence. Creating Value Through RETOS At its core, Service-Learning is based on reciprocity: students learn through meaningful engagement, while community organisations benefit from fresh perspectives, new ideas, and practical support.Through RETOS and RUN-EU, Howest continues to expand opportunities for students, staff, and external stakeholders to work together on real societal challenges and create positive impact within local communities and beyond.