Stakeholders’ Perceptions on the Project
While the assessment instruments detailed previously were used to measure students’ performance, their perceptions on the project were measured both qualitatively and quantitatively via the weekly learning journals, the final reflection paper and an end of course survey made available on the General Learning ePlatform. By answering the questions below, students were on one hand encouraged to reflect on their experience of the GIM from a professional and personal point of view, and on the other hand they were asked to evaluate the resources and methodology of the course. More specifically, students were asked to consider the following questions.
On the whole, students’ feedback on their experience with the GIM was positive. The following table shows the main conclusions that came from an analysis of students’ reflection papers and the end of course survey.
| Strengths of the course | Internationally diverse teams as a chance to learn from diversity, different levels, views and perspectives. The topic and methodology of the course. A real/original experience presenting challenges and a chance to deal with complexity. |
| Learning experience was an opportunity to... | Understand a relevant global issue/develop global competency. Foster team building skills. Work in an international environment. Adapt to challenges (working with new people, coordination). |
| Change in the understanding of the economic inequality | Develop/change in students’ understanding of economic inequality as a global issue. Attention drawn to the challenges faced/role played by companies in reducing economic inequality. |
Tutors, project leaders and the academic team of professors were also invited to provide their feedback on participating in Table 14.
| Strengths of the experience | The value of the teamwork among the faculty participating in the learning experience: confidence, trust and flexibility. |
| Added value of the project for students | Students have the opportunity to learn the skills that will need in a globalised world to conduct business. They have the opportunity to experience multicultural and complex realities (different time zones, languages, etc.) already in school. |
| Added value of the project for professors | “The occasion to coordinate among groups of business schools and see the different institutional irregularities, the different ways of teaching, the different ways of administrate programs was really education for me and for the all of us” (Matt Statler, 2014) “The most valuable effect for professors is to work with different approaches: we have human resources approach, economics approach, social sciences approach, working virtually with students, professors and other tutors has given me a great and a different way of not only teaching but also learning” (Josep M. Sayeras, 2014) |
The conclusions to arise from the qualitative answers of this survey were that the international aspect and the opportunity to work in teams were considered the main takeaways of the project for students, along with the chance to deepen their awareness of the topic from a business perspective while making use of online communication tools. As for project leaders, tutors or members of the academic team, the main takeaways included having the chance to experience new learning process and to rise to the challenge of working with international teams. Furthermore, the international perspective as well as the opportunity to deal with multiple stakeholders were also considered positive takeaways.
With regards to the strengths of the course, academic participants considered the following as positive aspects:
- Chance to deal with complexity.
- Interculturality.
- Diversity.
- Exposure to different learning styles.