CONFIDENTIAL LG/DEC 2022/ELC501

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

COURSE : ENGLISH FOR CRITICAL ACADEMIC READING

COURSE CODE : ELC501
SUBMISSION : WEEK 14
DATE
ASSESSMENT : WRITTEN ARTICLE ANALYSIS

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1. This question paper consists of one (1) question.

2. Answer the question using your own papers.

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This examination paper consists of 4 printed pages

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TOTAL MARKS: 25 MARKS

Read and analyse the following article. Your type-written critical analysis of the article
must be approximately 600-800 words.

Voluntary Work for Self-Development

I In this emerging economy, volunteerism has become an important activity in many

countries. It has contributed towards national development in producing productive
people who serve the community. It is also one of the fundamental social activities
which could make our society live in peace and harmony. Volunteerism is not money-
oriented; it benefits the volunteers and the receiving parties (Awang Noh & Zm, 2020).
Even though it is highly recognized as one of the influential factors for social
development in many countries, is the interest in volunteerism facing a serious decline
in Malaysia, particularly among university students?

II Studies have shown that the involvement of university students in voluntary work is not
encouraging despite the numerous benefits. According to Evans (2022), being involved
in voluntary work can boost your resume. Many job seekers encounter situations where
they cannot get a job without experience, and they cannot get experience without a job.
Volunteering can help overcome this obstacle, as companies may be more willing to
take on volunteers than paid employees. By volunteering in a certain field of work, job
seekers can gain valuable work experience that can launch a career. Volunteers should
carefully evaluate volunteer positions though, as volunteering in one industry does not
always open doors in another. In addition, some volunteers can more efficiently invest
their time in quality education to gain knowledge of critical job skills, points out
Understood.org.

III A study by the Corporation for National and Community Service, volunteering is
associated with 27% higher odds of employment. Employers are 82% more likely to
choose a candidate with volunteering experience and 85% more likely to overlook
resume flaws when the candidate's resume includes volunteer experience. Students
that enter the workforce with volunteer experience are not only boosting their resumes
but have the competitive edge among other (and equally qualified) candidates when
it's finally time to fill this open position.

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IV Volunteering can also help students develop their skills. Through community service,
students gain real-world experience and practice important habits like leadership,
problem-solving, and time management. Volunteering offers students the opportunity
to apply their classroom learning to practical scenarios that have real implications. In
other words, service-learning opportunities can offer the same skills-boosting
opportunities as student internships, but with the added benefit of improving the lives
of others.

V While the university life is an immensely rewarding (and fun) experience, it comes with
its share of stress. It is a time when young adults learn to become independent, manage
their time, and find their way into the "real world." Extra-curricular activities like
volunteering can help volunteers with time management and improve emotional well-
being. In fact, many studies cite the mental and physical health benefits of volunteering
(Zakaria & Jaafar, 2021). In a UK survey for Community Service Volunteers (CSV), it
was found that 48% of participants who volunteered for more than two years expressed
reduced feelings of depression. This is reflected in a 2018 study on volunteerism
and health where the participants experienced a 4.3% decrease in depression after
volunteering regularly. The same study also found that participants experienced a 9%
increase in physical health.

VI While the benefits of volunteering for varsity students are innumerable, engaging them
as volunteers presents its own challenges. University students are less likely to
volunteer than their parents and high school students, and they volunteer fewer hours.
Despite lower participation rates, university students still believe it’s important to help
others in need. They want to have an impact on their communities. And they make for
ideal volunteers; they are skilled, have flexible schedules, and are invested in the
future. Yet the number of university students as volunteers has not increased. Why is
there a discord between good intentions and participation in voluntary work?

VII Fast Company accredits the increase in education fees and student loan debt for the
recent decline in volunteering university students. The most common problems with
volunteering at university tend to involve a lack of free time and feeling overworked
(Sahimi, 2015). Growing anxiety over impending student debt means students are
spending their free time working paid jobs to help finance their education and living
expenses, leaving less time for volunteering (Sahimi et al., 2014). Students are also

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unaware of the various voluntary platforms that are available for them to offer their
service as volunteers (Subbarao et al., 2021).

VIII Fortunately, most campuses recognize the benefits of volunteer work for students,
finding ways to encourage students to become volunteers. One way to encourage
commitment to community service (and alleviate some financial stress) is to offer
scholarships to civically engaged students. This will encourage students to track their
volunteer hours and reflect on their impact, making it a more meaningful component of
their university experience.

IX If a scholarship is not possible, recognition for your active students goes a long way,
and can even lead to long-term benefits. Establish a campus-wide community service
award to the students who contributed substantial time and effort to a cause. A
community service reward impresses future employers (Evans, 2022) and recognizes
the efforts of community-minded individuals. Recognition is an effective way to
embolden students to make volunteering a regular part of their university experience.

X It has been shown that volunteering is good for university students. One thing that every
college campus wants is an environment of happy, engaged students. Being involved
with community service alongside earning a degree can help make that happen.
Students develop stronger relationships with faculty and their peers, shatter
preconceived stereotypes of the world around them, and have higher satisfaction
throughout their college experience.

Adapted from:
Waters, A. (2022, December 8). The benefits of volunteering for college students: Community
service programs in higher education. https://www.galaxydigital.com/blog/benefits-
volunteering-college

END OF QUESTION PAPER

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