Higher education has an essential role in the promotion of sustainable development. For this to be possible, the use of methodologies in accordance with principles of sustainability must be fostered. This article theoretically analyzes the characteristics that make service-learning an effective tool in education for sustainable development. In order to understand the challenges involved in its implementation in higher education, first of all, the concepts of sustainable development and sustainability are defined. Next, the use of education for sustainable development and curricular sustainability in higher education is contextualized. Finally, the pedagogical proposal of service-learning is addressed and linked to the principles of sustainability in the university environment. To conclude, in relation to prospective applications of service-learning, it is argued that it is an optimal methodology to educate about, for, and from sustainability and that its institutionalization in higher education is highly desirable.

In an era driven by technology and connectivity, where the sphere of learning goes beyond conventional classrooms, virtual service-learning merges the possibilities of technology with the principles of experiential education in a powerful blend. Service-learning (SL) is an educational proposal that has been recognized by UNESCO as an innovative educational tool through which to address the complex challenges of our society. The Sustainable Development Goals provide a framework around which to structure the SL projects and thus develop the skills needed to act on the full range of goals. Embedding digital service-learning means opening a debate on the intricate relationship between technology, education, and societal impact. This study aims to explore the perspectives of students, faculty and community partners on the combination of SL and digital empowerment (DE) under the sustainability education principles. The study adopted a qualitative approach. Data were gathered through two focus groups involving faculty, students and community partners. The focus group participants discussed the opportunities for innovation, the expected impact on them and on society as a whole, their needs, the pre-conditions for making SL and DE successful, and limitations or undesirable outcomes. The results are presented according to the six principles of sustainability education in the university environment, highlighting the transformative potential of combining these principles within SL and DE.

There has been a proliferation of service-learning practices in many disciplines of higher education. Although there are many instruments to assess various aspects related to service-learning, only a few are valid and reliable. This research tries to fill that gap by providing an optimal instrument. To this end, 118 educators from 43 higher education institutions participated in the validation process. Sampling was incidental and based on opportunity. Participants were asked to fill in the Questionnaire for the Self-assessment of University Service-learning Experiences—45 (QaSLu-45), which consists of 45 items with a 5-point Likert scale and was validated qualitatively through the Delphi method in 2020. To validate the questionnaire psychometrically, four steps were followed. First, an exploratory factor analysis of the main components was performed. Next, robust unweighted least squares factor exploratory analysis was carried out. Then, the goodness-of-fit and reliability of the final questionnaire were calculated. Finally, the scales for the new reduced QaSLu-27 were established. These results provide a valid, robust, reliable instrument, the QaSLu-27, which not only facilitates the evaluation of service-learning experiences for improving teaching and learning processes but can also be useful for their design.

(1) Background: In today’s digital society, challenges like cyberbullying, harmful social media use, and unhealthy digital habits demand innovative and inclusive educational responses. This study investigates the potential of service-learning (SL) and electronic service-learning (e-SL) as experiential approaches to enhance digital well-being among youth. By actively engaging students, educators, and community stakeholders in co-designed projects, SL/e-SL promotes critical awareness, digital citizenship, and prosocial values while addressing digital risks. (2) Methods: This review offers a literature-based analysis of existing programs and good practices that apply experiential education to encourage responsible digital engagement. It explores SL and e-SL experiences across various educational settings. (3) Results: The findings show that SL and e-SL can be effective educational tools, creating meaningful opportunities for youth to participate in tackling digital issues and building inclusive spaces where students, faculty, and communities collaborate to foster digital literacy and well-being. The analysis also led to the development of quality standards for SL and e-SL practices that promote digital well-being. (4) Conclusions: This study highlights key implications for teaching, underscoring the value of integrative pedagogies that connect experiential learning to digital challenges, promoting a more inclusive and responsible digital culture.

Uno de los estilos de liderazgo escolar más comprometido con la lucha contra las desigualdades sociales es el liderazgo democrático para la Justicia Social. A pesar de que los conceptos de democracia y justicia social van inexorablemente de la mano, enfatizarlo en el estilo liderazgo refleja una forma clara de entender la gobernanza y la escuela. El objetivo de este estudio es comprender las acciones que definen un liderazgo democrático para la Justicia Social. Para alcanzarlo, se ha llevado a cabo un estudio de casos instrumental investigando en profundidad tres equipos directivos. Los participantes han sido diferentes miembros de la comunidad educativa de los tres centros escolares. La recogida de información se ha realizado a través de entrevistas semiestructuradas y grupos de discusión. Los resultados reflejan que cinco son las prácticas que caracterizan a los equipos directivos democráticos que orientan su práctica a la Justicia Social: a) promueven una cultura democrática y critica que lucha contra las desigualdades, b) distribuyen los recursos y oportunidades entre las personas que más lo necesitan, c) reconocen los valores culturales y la diversidad, d) promueven un currículum inclusivo y participativo y e) promueven una gobernanza escolar democrática.

Este artículo ofrece una reflexión teórica sobre cómo las tecnologías emergentes, como la inteligencia artificial, están reconfigurando los espacios tradicionales de socialización, particularmente en el ámbito educativo. Desde los enfoques conceptuales de la socialización tecnológica, la teoría crítica de la sociedad y la pedagogía crítica, el artículo tiene como objetivo proporcionar una reflexión teórica sobre la alfabetización digital crítica, destacando su relevancia para abordar el impacto social de las TIC emergentes y explorando su potencial implementación en espacios educativos no formales, especialmente aquellos mediados por entornos virtuales, donde interactúan dimensiones cognitivas, emocionales y sociales que ofrecen condiciones para un aprendizaje significativo orientado a la transformación del ecosistema digital.