Abstract
The aim of this study was to analyze the differences within education-related degrees with respect to participation in volunteering. Volunteering motivation promotes and encourages emotional and social well-being and a sense of belonging in university students. This study was based on a total sample of 985 students undertaking Degrees in Early Childhood Education, Primary Education, and Social Education who attended higher education institutions in Northern Africa (Spain) and Eastern Spain. Once the quality parameters of the instrument were determined, the reliability was confirmed, and data collection was initiated. In order to analyze the results, a multilevel study (ANOVA) was conducted by interacting the variables for degrees with three levels (PE = Primary Education; EC = Early Childhood Education; SE = Social Education) and the variable “volunteering is my motivation to feel better”, with five levels (strongly disagree, disagree, unsure, agree, and strongly agree). From the data obtained, it was concluded that there were significant differences between the different degree paths, the assessment covering sociodemographic variables and areas of interest showing that volunteering benefits university students both socially and in their decision-making processes.
Highlights
Today, universities seek to establish collaborative education networks, in which the university sector works together with companies and community organizations to improve and provide quality education capable of meeting the challenges of and seizing the opportunities provided by social change [1,2,3]
Learning programs linked to volunteering are an important aspect to consider, since they equip students with a set of professional skills that improve the quality of their learning outcomes, resulting from the experience of providing a service to a community that enhances the lives of the people within it [13,14]
The option “involvement looks good in my curriculum” has the highest mean score among the students of the Degrees in Primary and Early Childhood Education; on the other hand, the option “get my foot in the door to professional employment” had the highest mean score among Social Education students
Summary
Universities seek to establish collaborative education networks, in which the university sector works together with companies and community organizations to improve and provide quality education capable of meeting the challenges of and seizing the opportunities provided by social change [1,2,3]. University students studying teaching and education believe that experience as a volunteer reinforces the training of these students and their future professional skills [4,5,6]. The literature shows [7,8] that social education degree students have more positive perceptions of volunteering than teaching students due to the social and personal characteristics that define these students, in which empathy, vocational components, and resilience are key elements. Learning programs linked to volunteering are an important aspect to consider, since they equip students with a set of professional skills that improve the quality of their learning outcomes, resulting from the experience of providing a service to a community that enhances the lives of the people within it [13,14] The development of voluntary activities may lead to today’s companies wanting motivated young workers who are interested in the progress of their business when they are recruited; that is, these companies would look for young people who can contribute positive ideas, developing their personality at the same time as their labor interests [10,11,12].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
