Student engagement is considered one of the key indicators of a successful university experience, as it fosters active learning through beneficial collaboration between universities, students, and society. Therefore, encouraging students to participate in teaching and research processes can foster a new awareness and renewed interest in ethical and sustainable engagement. Designing attractive tools that encourage cohesion and participation among students during their time at university is essential to increase their engagement with the institution. Among these tools, volunteering is particularly important.

This study therefore aims to examine the role of university volunteering programmes in enhancing and facilitating the 'conscious and responsible' participation of students in university life. To this end, a quantitative study was carried out at the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (URJC), enabling us to gain a deeper understanding of students' motivations for participating in these programmes, how to improve their operation, and the learning and commitment acquired. The study was carried out in the first semester of the year 2025 among students who have participated in the institution's volunteer programs, as well as among students who have not. A total of 200 students with different profiles were surveyed.

The URJC is a volunteering-committed institution, having had a Unit for Development Cooperation and Volunteering since 2014. It currently runs various programmes offering different types of volunteering, achieving significant results. However, this research has identified areas for improvement to increase student participation in these programmes and their commitment to the institution. This requires considering the so-called 'volunteer life cycle', in which the initial stages require strengthened communication, while the development of the project requires training, logistical and psychological support. The closing stage requires recognition and celebration actions. The volunteers must play an active role in the design of all this. In summary, students recognise the potential of volunteering as a learning tool in terms of both skills and the affective level, as well as demonstrating increased commitment to 'their university'. For institutions that develop this type of programme, this constitutes a differentiating factor for students.

Keywords: Institutional commitment, volunteering, soft skills, university.