Community Engagement Practice through Service-Learning in Public Relations Class

Communication Science Department, Faculty of Communication, Petra Christian University, Siwalankerto 121-131, Surabaya, Indonesia

^* e-mail: vidya@petra.ac.id

Abstract

This article explores the concept of corporate social responsibility in conjunction with the service-learning method. The focus of the exploration is a corporate social responsibility class which took place in Simokerto sub-village in Surabaya, Indonesia. The researcher used secondary analysis of the relevant documents from the Service-Learning program. The collaboration between the university's department of communication science, the World Vision Indonesia (WVI) Urban Surabaya that acted as the facilitator and provider of community and the students as the agents of service learning was enabled with an objective of the application of theories, an increased students' comprehension and benefits for the community itself. The findings of the research were highlighted in three aspects, first, the theories applied in the boundaries of the community's condition, having said that service-learning is a suitable method to cultivate the concept of CSR to Public Relations students. Second, the students experienced an increased comprehension from the active application of their knowledge and a changed in perception about others. Third, the active acceptance from the community and the role of the NGO enabled an uneventful service-learning program.