Service learning as a pedagogical practice for the promotion of generic competencies in university students: a systematic review

The objective of this study is to assess the service learning methodology as a pedagogical practice to foster the development of generic competencies among university students. A systematic review is conducted for articles selected according to the Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and the eligibility criteria proposed by the PICOS strategy, based on 71 records of scientifically identified articles on the Web of Science (WoS) Journal Citation Report databases. Publications between 1999 and 2022 are considered. The literature review allows selecting seven articles showing the results of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed research. The results reveal that the application of this methodology enhances the learning of instrumental, interpersonal, and systemic generic competencies. It is concluded that service learning consolidates the development of these competencies and should be institutionalized since its success depends on the commitment of professors, students, and community partners.