IARSLCE in San Diego

San Diego is a beautiful city, with mild weather, plenty of sunshine, long shoreline, and expensive houses. 

The University of San Diego is a beautiful Catholic university.  With elegant, well-planned buildings surrounded by plenty of open spaces and trees.  On a hill top with unrestricted views in all directions.  

We are here to attend the IARSLCE (International Association for Research on Service-Learning and Community Engagement) annual conference of 2024. With 200+ people attending. Mostly Americans, with a few Asians, Europeans and South Americans.  Our PolyU team, with 6, is one of the largest, is presenting 4 papers.  

Here we are meeting with many old friends, and more new ones.  We presented two of the papers today, and both are well-received.  Tomorrow, we present two more.  

Most of the IARSLCE conferences are held in the USA.  This makes it difficult - logistically as well as financially, and for some, politically - difficult to attend.  This is particularly acute for the people in service-learning, when SL is by nature not a money making field.  

But we do feel a need for is in the Asia-Pacific Region, to be connected to the global community.  Hence my mission, as a member on the Board of Directors, is to build a better, stronger connection.  Hence the setting up of the Asia-Pacific Community of Practice, and the organisation of the APCoP conference in Hong Kong in December.  

More to follow.