Valderrama Conde, María JoséNebreda, EtnaLópez Ejeda, NoemíLinares Gómez, María2025-04-022025-04-022025-02-07Valderrama, M.-J., Nebreda, E., López-Ejeda, N., & Linares, M. (2025). When Teaching and Learning Microbiology Engage Societal Needs. Microbial Biotechnology, 18(2). https://doi.org/10.1111/1751-7915.700981751-791510.1111/1751-7915.70098https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/119165We thank the encouragement of Non-Governmental Organisations that collaborated with the project (Cáritas Madrid, Diaconía Madrid, Escuela popular Oporto, Fundación Padre Garralda, Hogar Sí, Krecer, Mediancellii, Solidarios por el Desarrollo) and City Council of Madrid, and particularly the persons and coordinators at the social centres that hosted the program. We also thank all the students that participated in the project, for their enthusiasm and commitment. We acknowledge K. J. McCarthy for reviewing the English of the manuscript. The S-L programme is funded by Complutense University of Madrid through Educational Innovation and Service-Learning calls (Innova-Docencia 18/2018, ApS-UCM 18/2019, ApS-UCM 3/2020, ApS-UCM 1/2021, ApS-UCM 15/2022, ApS-UCM 22/2023). This work was supported by Grant PID2021-123056OA-I00 funded by CIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)—A way of making Europe.This article explores the integration of community-based learning into microbiology education, using as an example the Service-Learning (S-L) programme ‘Movies in company for preventing diseases’ implemented at the Complutense University of Madrid. The programme exemplifies how academic knowledge can be effectively applied to address societal issues focused on disadvantaged populations. The issue describes the basis and quality criteria for designing a S-L in clinical microbiology: real needs identification, student's curricular connection, social engagement and learning link, assessment of active participation of students, commitment outside university campus and recognition and assessment. The impact on university participants and community partners and the contribution to university social responsibility is also presented. The S-L programme fosters social engagement in all participants, both students and university tutors, and positively impacts community underserved members by providing crucial health information and support. The success of this programme highlights its potential as a model for integrating academic learning in microbiology with societal needs and emphasises the role of universities in addressing global challenges.engAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internationalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/journal articlehttps://doi.org/10.1111/1751-7915.70098https://enviromicro-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1751-7915.70098open access579616.937837.035Infectious diseasesService-LearningSocial engagementSustainable developmental goalsMicrobiología (Biología)Enfermedades infecciosasEducación socialEnseñanza universitaria2414 Microbiología3205.05 Enfermedades Infecciosas5802.04 Niveles y Temas de Educación