Experiential learning: Helping students to become 'career-ready'. Issue 2 (May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Spanjaard, Daniela; Hall, Tim; Stegemann, Nicole
• Is Part Of: Australasian marketing journal. Volume 26:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 163
• Page End: 171
• Publication Date: 2018-05
• Subjects: Experiential learning -- work-ready -- graduate employability -- career self-efficacy; Marketing -- Australasia -- Periodicals; Marketing -- Periodicals; 658.8480905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ausmj.2018.04.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1441-3582

Abstract

Highlights: Industry demands that marketing graduates are now trained to be 'work-ready'. Students, on the other hand, should focus on being 'career ready'. Most universities emphasise their ability to achieve this but with limited success. Embedding integrated experiential learning activities improves this outcome. Three examples of experiential learning are presented to show evidence of this. Abstract: Today's graduates face a competitive entry-level job market whilst at the same time employers from all areas of business plea for alumni who are 'work-ready'. There is an underlying expectation that throughout their studies, graduates have opportunities where they are actively engaged in other areas of their education apart from just achieving final grades. Whilst 'work ready' remains an important goal, higher education institutions should consider the longer term alternate: the 'career-ready' graduate. This conceptual paper considers this principle and proposes a range of alternative experiential learning activities to equip marketing students with 'real world' experiences. It aims to show that by offering students opportunities that incorporate not only the 'organisational' perspective, but also those of the customer, and the living context in which the interaction is experienced, they will have a far more holistic viewpoint to make informed decisions about the direction in which to develop their career. Chinese Abstract: 当今的毕业生面临竞争性的初级就业市场, 而同时商业各大领域的雇主则渴求"做好工作准备"的校友. 我们对毕业生有潜在性预期, 期待他们通过学习后, 除了仅仅取得最终成绩外, 他们可以有机会积极从事其所受教育的其他领域工作. 虽然"做好工作准备"依然是重要的目标, 但高等教育机构应该考虑更长期的替代者:"做好职业准备的"毕业生. 本概念性论文考虑了这一原则, 并提出了一系列可供替代的经验性学习活动, 让市场营销的学生具备"现实世界"的经历. 其目的在于表明, 通过为学生提供不仅可以融合"组织"观点, 还可以融合客户观点以及融合体验互动的生活环境的机会, 学生们将拥有更全面的视觉, 可以对其职业生涯发展的方向作出明智合理的决定.