With the degree scroll "Experiencias de aprendizaje-servicio en torno a una necesidad básica: la alimentación", the professor of the School of Pharmacy and Nutrition Itziar Zazpe obtained the award to the best oral communication in the I workshop of the academic staff of the Degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics, celebrated in Reus (Tarragona) and to which 32 communications were presented.

The six best were selected from among all of them. Secondly, the winner was chosen from the assessment made by the scientific committee of meeting. For Professor Zazpe, "this is a sharedaward with the rest of the co-authors-Susana Santiago, Roncesvalles Garayoa, Ana Sánchez-Tainta, Alejandro Fernández Montero, Ana Belén Rodríguez, Diana Ansorena and Elena Gascón- and it would not have been possible without the involvement of the students, the School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, the professors and the entities that have participated". "It is also necessary to mention Tantaka, the University's solidarity time bank", emphasizes the professor, "origin of many of these service-learning experiences".

The communication dealt with the experience of the University in organizing Learning and Service (ApS) activities in the field of Nutrition between 2010 and 2017 in the context of Tantaka and the project "For a healthy food, you decide". "As we present in the communication, students value the ApS activities as a positive, innovative, enriching experience, which has allowed them to reach new competences beyond the academic curriculum . In the case of the professors, the advantages of bringing student closer to real environments that facilitate the acquisition of dietitian-nutritionist competencies and that promote their training in social responsibility are noted", the professor explains.

13 activities in 5 areas of action

Likewise, since 2012, the Learning and Service activities related to Nutrition have been developed in the framework of the subjects of Dietetics I, Dietetics II, Education Nutritional, Collective Catering and in the final works of Degree of Nutrition and of the double Degree Pharmacy-Nutrition, which together represent a academic load of 28.5 credits ECTS credit.

"In addition, thanks to the partnership of six University professors and 7 partners, we have carried out 13 activities grouped into 5 areas of action, such as dietary counseling and promotion of healthy choices in cafes and vending machines on the occasion of Healthy Eating Day and Sports Day, or the partnership with the Food Bank of Navarra to, among other actions, distribute lots according to the recommended frequency of consumption for adults and children," says the professor.

Its partnership has also been extended to foundations such as CORE, with whom they have prepared cooking classes especially designed for immigrants; Villa Teresita and the Spanish Refugee committee financial aid (CEAR), with the goal to provide theoretical and practical sessions on per diem expenses Mediterranean and healthy eating; or the Clínica Universidad de Navarra, for whose staff Kitchen Service has designed educational materials on healthy eating and food handling.

Service-Learning is a methodology of work educational that combines teaching with the social commitment of student and allows the development of professional skills through voluntary service that meets real demands present in the community. In this sense, Professor Zazpe emphasizes that, precisely, "food is a basic need that offers numerous opportunities for future dietitians-nutritionists to learn in real contexts with specific social demands".