a convergence of perspectives: enhancing students’ employability by becoming members of the same...
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A Convergence of Perspectives: Enhancing Students’ Employability
by Becoming Members of the Same Team
Presenter: Vanette Hordyk
Conference : Education in a Changing Environment: Meeting the Challenges
Theme: Employability and Workforce Development
Presentation Outline• Research
• Literature and Ideal Team
• Findings of Perspectives- Students- Employers- Academics (extant literature)
• Concluding Comments
• References
Research Aim
To explore, analyze and discuss the conceptualization of teamwork
skills from the perspectives of graduating business students and
business employers.
Research Context
• The Changing Nature of the Workplace
• The Business Employer
• The Global Employee
• The Economic Importance of Higher Education
IncreasedEconomy
Qualityof
HigherEducation
InstitutionalReputation
IncreasedEconomy
Qualityof
HigherEducation
InstitutionalReputation
Research Objectives
1. To establish greater alignment between perspectives in order to better develop ‘work ready’ and global ready’ business graduates.
2. To inform academics of the opportunities for teamwork skills development in undergraduate business curriculum.
3. To better match expectations of teamwork skills for employment.
Teamwork in the Literature
Alignment of all 3
Components
AssessmentsLearning Experience / Activity
Unit Content Objectives & Outcomes
“Team projects will not be an effective learning and teaching activity unless integrated into all aspects
of the curriculum for the course, module or unit of study for which the team project forms a part.”
(Caspersz, Skene and Wu 2006, 8)
Findings of Students’ Perspectives …
• What is meant by Teamwork
• Development of Generic Skills including Teamwork Skills
- Attitude
- Good Teaching
• Value of Teamwork to Employment Prospects
Findings of Employers’ Perspectives …
• What is meant by Teamwork
• Value of Teamwork to Employment - Recruitment and Selection
• Role in Skills Development
• What is meant by Teamwork
• Categorization of Key Skills
• Teaching and Managing Student Teamwork
Findings of Academics’ Perspectives … (from Extant Literature)
The challenge of preparing graduates
for the future cannot be confined to a university degree; rather, it requires the
establishment of working partnerships
with business and industry in order to
create a shared understanding of what is needed and how to go about it.
Concluding Comments
Thank Youfor your attendance and
support.
Questions ??? Comments …
“If you know how to turn obstacles into opportunity, why do I have to move my toys off the stairway?”
© 2006 by Randy
References
Arends, R.I. 2001. Learning to Teach. 5th ed. USA: McGraw-Hill.
Bolton, T., and T. Hyland. 2003. Implementing Key Skills in Further Education: perceptions and issues. Journal of Further and Higher Education 27 (1): 15-26.
Caspersz, D., J. Skene, and M. Wu. 2006. Managing Student Teams. Australia: Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia Inc.
de la Harpe, B., A. Radloff, and J. Wyber. 2000. Quality and Generic (Professional) Skills. Quality in Higher Education 6 (3): 231-243.
McKendall, M. 2000. Teaching Groups to Become Teams. Journal of Education for Business 75 (5): 277-282.
Nowak, L., S. Miller, and J. Washburn. 1996. Team Testing Increases Performance. Journal of Education for Business 71 (5): 253-256.
References continued
Todd, Z., and M Lobeck. 2004, Integrating survey and focus group research: a case study of attitudes of English and German language learners. In Mixing methods in psychology – the integration of qualitative and quantitative methods in theory and practice, eds. Z. Todd, B. Nerlich, S. McKeown and D. Clarke, 169-184. New York: Psychology Press.
Watson, W., L. Johnson, and D. Merritt. 1998. Team orientation, Self-orientation and Diversity in Task Groups. Group & Organization Management 23 (2): 161-188.
Yazici, H. 2004. Student Perceptions of Collaborative Learning in Operations Management Classes. Journal of Education for Business 80 (2): 110-118.
Research Methodology
• Mixed methods or quali-quantitative approach (Todd and Lobeck 2004).
– Quantitative survey, including a series of
open-ended questions: student sample n=319
– Subsequent student interviews: sample n=16
– Employer interviews: sample n=10
John Curtin
Prime Minister of Australia
1941 - 1945