USING SELF-ACTIVATING AND REFLECTIVE METHODS IN BUSINESS AND TOURISM EDUCATION -EXAMPLES OF HOW TO WORK WITH XING AND DE BONO THINKING HATS TO TRIGGER TRANSVERSAL SKILLS

This paper outlines the usage of new tools in teaching in order to create self-activated and creative students. It addresses the need to use new methods to develop the needed employability skills in young adults today. We see that by integrating innovative pedagogical solutions which are specifically designed to develop students’ competences into transversal skills (e.g. active and contextual learning methods) into the study process, this can happen. Furthermore, the aim of this paper is to show how we in an UAS (Universities of Applied Sciences) can support the priority areas in ET 2020 for higher education to improve the quality and efficiency of education and training and enhance creativity and innovation at all levels of education and training. It is stated that by 2020, 20% more jobs will require higher level skills.

Education needs to drive up both standards and levels of achievement to match this demand, as well as encourage the transversal skills needed and to ensure that young people are able to be entrepreneurial and can adapt to the increasingly inevitable changes in the labour market during their career (Communication Strasbourg, 20.11.2012 COM (2012) 669 final).

In this action research we have been using Xing and De Bono as triggers for these skills in the teaching of leadership and management, hotel management, intercultural business and project management. The students included in this sample were BA student in their 2nd or 3rd year of study. The intervention has been evaluated by the participating students as well as by our colleagues.

Based on these reflections together with participatory observation we see that these types of methods and tools do help trigger the skills and competences mentioned above. Outcomes show that the methods have a place in today’s innovative learning environment.