Abstract

The Austral University of Chile has progressively incorporated in the Service Learning Academy methodology, taking as reference the international experience, particularly the U.S..With this teaching-learning strategy is sought, simultaneously, to solve problems of vulnerable communities and achieve academic goals in training. The process experienced by this institution has allowed to enhance their social capital for the sake of the environment, strengthen the civic conscience, comply with emerging problems addressed communities with their players and develop disciplinary skills with emphasis on values formation. This article the work done in developing the Service Learning students from the School of Nursing at the Universidad Austral de Chile as part of their curriculum. It highlights the different communities involved as community partners and the opportunities available to replicate this initiative in any place where vulnerable communities and identify needs that can be resolved by making quality service a learning process in the real world.