Abstract:

The Covid pandemic has brought both challenges and opportunities in education. Activities and practices traditionally carried out in class had to be transferred to an online learning. This meant that students and teachers had to adjust to new realities of learning and teaching online.

To address this new reality an activity (a business event) previously carried out face to face was transformed into an online activity. Organizing an online business event was incorporated in spring 2020 in the Introduction to International Business course for 1st semester undergraduate students, as part of their BBA degree programme in a Finnish UAS. The activity was conducted until spring 2022 and involved 233 multicultural students.

The primary aim of the activity was for the students to develop project management skills. The secondary aims were to develop professional networks, and to gain knowledge and understanding of latest insights from the business field.

Data was gathered in written accounts of the students’ project management process, the team self-assessment form and the students’ course feedback. The written accounts provided information on the team planning process, and the implementation of the event. The team self-assessment form provided information on each team member’s input during the entire process. Finally, the course feedback provided information on the value of the activity for students’ overall learning.

Data analysis revealed that the online event proved to be an effective tool that developed students’ project management skills. Through a motivating and challenging real-life scenario, students developed professional skills, such as planning and organising, problem solving, communication skills in diverse teams, marketing skills, and IT skills. In addition, students developed their professional networks, and gained knowledge and understanding of latest insights from the business field.

Keywords:

Online business event, project management skills, professional networks.