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