Biology, medicine and health
Combining community involvement, study and practical experience.
With service learning, students go out into communities to undertake practical work and contribute to their overall learning outcomes while providing an important service to local people, benefiting both equally.
This helps strengthen the bond between the University and communities, and combines two of our core goals at The University of Manchester – teaching excellence and social responsibility.
Find out more about service learning and how students, staff and communities can get involved below.
You can also contact us to learn more.
What is service learning?
Working together to enhance learning and service delivery.
Service learning is when students work in collaboration with community groups, organisations and schools to expand their skills and knowledge as part of their learning outcomes while providing necessary and relevant services to local people. Both sides therefore benefit from the interaction.
It is an experiential teaching and learning approach where students help address genuine community needs through active community and civic engagement. This means that students and the communities are expected to work together and benefit equally.
Service learning is also known as community engaged learning (CEL). It combines community involvement, academic study and practical experience in a constructive way.
Who we currently work with
Our service learning activities involve collaboration with a variety of organisations.
These include:
- Healthcare providers such as GP practices and pharmacies
- Schools
- Charities
- Ethnic minority community groups and organisations
- Community interest companies (CICs)
If your community organisation is interested in working with Manchester students on a service learning project, see the information for communities page or get in touch.
Service learning examples
A range of projects in communities.
In the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, service learning takes place across a range of courses in each of our three Schools.
These include medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, optometry, speech and language therapy, and biosciences. You can see examples of our service learning projects below.
If you are involved in a service learning project that you would like to be featured here, please get in touch.
The benefits of participating in and organising service learning projects
Two Dentistry students reflect on what they've got out of service learning.
Read the blog : The benefits of participating in and organising service learning projects.
Roots to Dental: Connecting with the local community through service learning
Dentistry students have helped offer free treatment to those facing employment challenges through the Roots to Dental programme.
Read the blog : Roots to Dental: Connecting with the local community through service learning.
Oral health education with Tamil schoolchildren
BDS Dentistry students visited a Tamil school in Manchester to run oral health role-playing and Q&A sessions with children and parents.
Read the blog : Oral health education with Tamil schoolchildren.
Dentists in Primary Schools (DiPS)
Award-winning student Yasmin Egonu made it possible for dental students to run oral health sessions in local primary schools.
Manchester First Language Community Project
Dentistry students such as Sophie Pathmanathan have been helping increase dental care access for people unable to speak English.
Healthcare education in schools
Year 3 pharmacy students go into local secondary schools and hold workshops on a wide range of healthcare issues.
Read the story : Bringing healthcare education into schools.
Dental Playbox
Students have been encouraging schoolchildren in Greater Manchester to learn about oral health and prevent tooth decay.
Oral hygiene clinics for refugees and asylum seekers
Dr Joanne Cunliffe has worked with students to deliver dental care to minority groups in Manchester.
Read the story : Dental care for refugees and other minority groups.
Homeless Care Project
Student Murrium Bennie came up with the idea of distributing dental care packs to homeless people after volunteering with the Homeless Healthcare Society.
More examples
Find out more about our service learning activities.
- Delivering dental aid and oral health education in Sri Lanka (British Dental Journal)
- Dental volunteering in Uganda (Dentistry magazine)
Information for...
News and events
Stay up to date with our service learning activities.
Latest updates
You can read about the latest developments in service learning at Manchester on our blog.
Upcoming meetings and events
Intro to Service Learning online sessions
Join Dr Rachel Lindley, Academic Co-Lead for Service Learning in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, to learn more about the why, what and how behind service learning.
Whether you’re brand new to service learning or are looking for a quick refresher, this online session can help you take the next step.
All staff and students are welcome to attend this Teams session on any of the following dates.
- Wednesday 23 April, 12:30-1:30pm (register now, login required)
- Thursday 15 May, 2-3pm (register now, login required)
- Tuesday 17 June, 12-1pm (register now, login required)
- Wednesday 16 July, 2:30-3:30pm (register now, login required)
Drop-in sessions
We will be running a drop-in clinic for anyone in need of support with an existing service learning project.
Rachel and other service learning leaders will be on hand to offer guidance and advice on all things service learning. Join us online for one of the following sessions:
- Wednesday 7 May, 3-4pm (register now, login required)
- Wednesday 16 July, 12-1pm (register now, login required)
Service learning staff network
We've created an informal network for staff interested in service learning at the University.
To join our Teams group, please email us: srbmh@manchester.ac.uk.
Contact us
Ask us a question about service learning in the Faculty.
To find out more, please get in touch with our Academic Co-Leads for service learning below, or see specific information for students, communities and University staff.
Community representatives who want to discuss potential service learning projects can get in touch by filling in our online contact form.
Raj Ariyaratnam
Email: senathirajah.ariyaratnam@manchester.ac.uk
Rachel Lindley
Email: rachel.lindley@manchester.ac.uk