The XII National and VI International Congress of Service-Learning in Higher Education aspires to become the largest event at the national level and one of the most successful at the international level in the year 2024. It will be held from 25 to 27 September 2024 in Palma (Balearic Islands) in a partially hybrid format, included in the International Week of Service-Learning Week in Higher Education.

The motto of the congress is SUSTAINABILITY, QUALITY AND RECOGNITION IN SERVICE-LEARNING IN HIGHER EDUCATION, making these three pillars the foundations for attracting research, experiences, and analysis of impact on educational policies. This is not only intended to give continuity to the advances obtained in the long history of University Service-Learning congresses, but also to the recent legislative changes within the framework of the Organic Law of the University System (LOSU), which include service-learning in its articles number 18 and 33, making it more necessary than ever for universities to commit to its institutionalization. More recently, the criteria for the evaluation of merits and competencies, as well as the requirements for the accreditation of teaching staff, in accordance with the provisions of Royal Decree 678/2023, of July 18, 2023, must imply a new consideration of university service-learning in the evaluation and accreditation of the academic career of teaching and research staff.

The University of the Balearic Islands (UIB) is the main organizer of this edition of the congress, through two main structures:  the ApSUIB Programme and the Unit for Innovation in Sustainable Development, Health and Global Justice through Service-Learning (iApS2030). The first depends on the Office of the Vice-Rector for Students and the second on the Office of the Vice-Rector for Innovation and Digital Transformation. With the organization of this event, the University of the Balearic Islands continues with the commitment established in the university’s own regulations in 2017 as well as in the Strategic Plan 2023-2027 to promote this pedagogical approach. 

In October 2023, Group 9 of universities approved the creation of the Service-Learning Network within the sectoral commission for Academic Planning. The University of the Balearic Islands is one of the universities in this group and the promoter of the creation of this network. In this way, ApSUG-9 participates as a collaborator in the organization of this congress.

Finally, the Asociacion de Aprendizaje-Servicio Universitario has already collaborated in the organization of different congresses of this nature, providing on this occasion the call for the first edition of the Service-Learning in Higher Education Awards. The association has played a key role in the internationalization of Service-Learning in Higher Education for example trough the involvement in the foundation of the European Higher Education Observatory together with the European Association of Service-Learning in Higher education or through its participation in the Erasmus+ SLIDE Consortium.