Student perspectives on volunteering following participation in a volunteering studies course

Volunteering is an activity that individuals carry out to help others and contribute to society without expecting anything in return. Volunteering activities allow individuals to fulfill their social responsibilities, contribute to society and support their personal development. In the field of education, especially in universities, volunteering activities have an important place to provide students with a sense of social responsibility, increase their sensitivity to social events and contribute to their personal development. Volunteering activities strengthen students' ties with society while also helping them develop skills such as empathy, leadership and teamwork. This study aims to assess the impact of activities conducted within volunteer studies courses on students' perspectives on volunteering. Utilizing a quantitative research method, specifically a survey model, data were collected using a 21-item questionnaire from 73 students enrolled in the "Volunteer Studies" course. The data collected were analyzed using SPSS 25 software. The analysis results indicate that the "Volunteer Studies" course facilitates students in achieving the anticipated outcomes. Through the course's content and activities, students have developed social awareness, engaged in volunteer work with NGOs, and improved their teamwork abilities. These findings align with existing literature that highlights the positive effects of volunteering and service-learning experiences on empathy development. Consequently, the implementation of this course and the benefits students derive from it are expected to influence the development of similar courses in the future, contributing to the cultivation of socially conscious individuals equipped with a strong sense of volunteerism.