Abstract
Increasing debate in Higher Education has been around preparing graduates for future employment. Varied approaches, including problem-based and activity-led learning, have been used to develop both the required theoretical and analytical skills being applied to a problem in order to improve graduates' skills-base. An interesting question remains about how competitive assessments could provide better preparation for students (both the eventual winners and losers) after their studies International post-graduate students at Coventry University undertaking a Project Planning and Control module have been tasked to prepare a full bid to run a departmental event for an undergraduate course involving staff, students and industrial sponsors; this bid is an assessed coursework contributing to the module mark. The intent is that these groups should improve their project management proficiency through active learning in the application of known project management methods in delivering this bid. Each group was required to produce professional and comprehensive written tender document to demonstrate their groups' capability to deliver this event successfully, as well as deliver a short pitch to the project sponsors of the expected event-delegates' experience. A combination of structured questionnaires with informal student feedback has been used to assess the students' engagement in and the students' perception of the relevancy of this competitive bid. Action research method has been used also as authors acted as facilitators in seminars and their observations of the process. Initial evaluation has indicated this "real-world" activity engaged 75% of students, with staff observing improved contextualisation; these results are in-line with literature.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | EE 2012 - International Conference on Innovation, Practice and Research in Engineering Education, Conference Proceedings |
Publication status | Published - 2012 |
Externally published | Yes |
Event | International Conference on Innovation, Practice and Research in Engineering Education 2012 - Coventry University, Coventry, United Kingdom Duration: 18 Sept 2012 → 20 Sept 2012 Conference number: 94845 |
Publication series
Name | EE 2012 - International Conference on Innovation, Practice and Research in Engineering Education, Conference Proceedings |
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Conference
Conference | International Conference on Innovation, Practice and Research in Engineering Education 2012 |
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Abbreviated title | EE 2012 |
Country/Territory | United Kingdom |
City | Coventry |
Period | 18/09/12 → 20/09/12 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Management of Technology and Innovation
- Education