Abstract:

Industry-educational (I/E) relationships are forged on a four dimensional involvement, the students, the industry partners, the faculty involved, and the educational institution. These relationships also need to consider student learning frameworks on the projects and their effectiveness in three key learning outcomes, cognitive learning, behavioral learning, and effective learning. This paper provides insight in (I/E) relationships over a period of several years with an MBA program in the hospitality field. It evaluates the value added dimension, and the student learning frameworks that are needed for successful completion of the relationship. Problem based learning (PBL) is introduced as an affective platform of engagement with student learning. The Applied business projects (ABP) described in this abstract are based on a theoretical educational framework in which different experiential learning theories were evaluated, (PBL) was chosen as the most suitable. Advocates of (PBL) have emphasized that students achieve cognitive outcomes by developing their reasoning process in solving real problems. Work-integrated learning in the form of these applied business projects (ABP) offers valuable benefits, especially to the students as they can attribute for successfully gaining an entry-level position. Over the period of these (I/E) many students have gained a position with the companies involved. However, even if academics and industries have somewhat different perspectives, this type of experiential learning not only educates students but also the academics. The (I/E) collaboration partnership started with one international hotel chain in 2007, and this relationship has been maintained with progressive projects and some with a longitudinal perspective. In 2014 the (I/E) collaboration has grown to six international companies. Few examples of the holistic experience exist in the literature, and this paper is an attempt to record challenges of such projects for all parties. The projects described in this scheme are based on a theoretical educational framework that draws and evaluates the four dimensional platforms and the three key learning outcomes.

Keywords:

Problem-based learning, Applied business projects, Cognitive learning, Behavioural learning, Effective learning. Student learning.