Abstract:

After several years implementing the Degree in Business Administration and Management at the Vitoria-Gasteiz Faculty of Economics and Business in the University of the Basque Country (UPV /EHU), some monitoring indicators should be improved. The deviations from the anticipated values were reported in 2016/17, and they were thought to be caused mainly by the mismatch between the ideal and real income profile and the lack of motivation of the students towards their own learning.

In such a context, a team of students, managers and teachers from the Faculty carried out an Educational Innovation Project with the main objective being to improve students´ motivation, especially focusing on the first-year learners. The aim was to improve the learning motivation working in two ways. On the one hand, it was important to provide a more successful transition and adaptation of the first-year students to the university dynamics. Furthermore, there was a need to increase teacher training in motivational aspects.

In order to achieve the aforementioned objective, firstly a primary diagnosis was made about the motivations of the new students. Afterwards, a set of actions were proposed and put into practice:
a) a broad welcome program for new students was designed and implemented;
b) the teachers were provided with specific training in teaching methodologies aimed at an active and deep learning;
c) a business game was used in a subject of the first course, and
d) the motivational atmosphere was positively altered by various actions related to student engagement and cozy environment.

Two years on from the implementation of the Educational Innovation Project, there is still not enough information and perspective to perform a general evaluation of its effect on student motivation. However, the achievement of some intermediate indicators is positive, so we can expect improvements on indicators such as success, drop-out and graduation rates in the medium and long term.

Keywords:

Higher Education, student motivation, educational innovation project, deeper learning, student engagement.