Community Service Act for Higher Education Students in Venezuela
Community Service Act for Higher Education Students
Part I: Fundamental Provisions
Chapter I: General Provisions
Article 1: Purpose
This law regulates community service by college students aspiring to practice any undergraduate-level profession.
Article 2: Principles
This Act adheres to the constitutional principles of solidarity, social responsibility, equality, cooperation, responsibility, participation, humanitarian assistance, and otherness.
Article 3: Scope
Community service will be provided within the country’s geographical area determined by the relevant Higher Education Institution.
Chapter II: Community Service Definition
Article 4: Definition
Community service is an activity performed in communities by higher education students enrolled in vocational studies. It involves applying acquired scientific, technical, cultural, sports, and humanities knowledge to benefit the community and achieve social welfare goals, as per the Constitution and Community Law.
Article 5: Community Definition
The community is the social context (national, state, or municipal) where higher education institutions operate to provide community service.
Article 6: Title Requirement
Community service is required for a higher education degree. It doesn’t create employment rights or obligations and must be unpaid.
Article 7: Purpose of Community Service
- Foster student solidarity, community involvement, and civic and ethical standards.
- Reciprocate with society.
- Enrich higher education through service learning, applying acquired knowledge.
- Integrate higher education institutions with the community to contribute to Venezuelan society’s development.
- Develop social capital through service learning.
Article 8: Duration
Community service requires at least 120 academic hours over no less than three months. Institutions may adjust the duration to their academic regime.
Article 9: Conditions
Proselytizing and political party activities are prohibited during community service.
Article 10: Resources
Higher education institutions must budget for community service in their annual operating plans, supplemented by potential convention-derived resources.
Part II: Higher Education Institutions
Article 11: Definition
Higher education institutions are those established by the Organic Law of Education.
Article 12: Training
The Ministry of Higher Education and institutions will coordinate seminars, courses, or workshops on community realities to train staff and students for community service implementation, preparing coordinators, consultants, and students.
Article 13: Function
Institutions will provide necessary conditions for community service, offering student project participation.
Article 14: Conventions
Conventions are alliances between the Ministry, institutions, public and private organizations, communities, and trade associations to implement community service.
Article 15: Responsibilities
- Ensure projects meet community needs.
- Offer projects aligned with student academic profiles.
- Establish agreements with public, private sectors, and communities.
- Issue completion records.
- Develop projects aligned with disciplines and community needs.
- Advise students.
- Develop internal operating regulations.
- Grant academic awards or bonuses based on service.
- Determine timing, duration, location, and conditions.
- Adjust duration to academic regimes.
- Establish agreements with planning councils, organizations, and communities.
- Evaluate submitted projects.
- Establish execution conditions.
- Ensure free student registration in projects.
Part III: Community Service Providers
Article 16: Providers
Providers are students who have completed at least 50% of their academic load and a pre-project course, workshop, or seminar on community realities.
Article 17: Provider Rights
- Learn project timing.
- Learn enrollment requirements and procedures.
- Receive appropriate advice.
- Fair and ethical treatment.
- Activities aligned with academic profiles.
- Receive completion records.
- Receive academic awards or incentives.
- Free project registration.
- Participate in project development.
Article 18: Provider Obligations
- Complete community service as a degree requirement (this doesn’t replace professional practices).
- Obey agreement rules.
- Act respectfully, honestly, and responsibly.
- Follow coordinator and consultant guidelines.
- Fulfill service as per the Act and regulations.
- File for approval after completion.
Article 19: Violations
Violators are institutions, academics, and providers who don’t comply with obligations outlined in this Act and its regulations.
Article 20: Sanctions
Staff and students in breach will be subject to existing standards, disciplinary procedures, and institutional regulations. Institutions will be sanctioned according to relevant laws.
Part IV: Projects
Article 21: Project Development
Projects should address community needs, offering methodological solutions and considering local, state, and national development plans.
Article 22: Project Initiative
Projects may be initiated by:
- The Ministry of Higher Education
- Higher education institutions
- Higher education students
- Trade associations
- Public institutions
- Private institutions
- Organized communities
Article 23: Submission & Approval
Projects must be submitted in writing, addressing the problem, need, rationale, objectives, and methodology. Institutions may have additional requirements. All projects require institutional approval.
Additional Provisions
- Institutions will assess existing social action projects for potential alignment with this Act.
- Students in their final two years who haven’t performed community service may be exempt.
- Institutions have one year from publication to develop internal rules and incorporate community service into academic procedures.
Single Disposal
This Act takes effect upon publication.