Undergraduate Perceptions of Extracurricular and Co-Curricular Activities and Impact on Social Skills Development

Abstract

This research explores the perceptions of undergraduates at a Sino-foreign cooperative university in terms of extracurricular activities (ECAs) and co-curricular activities (CCAs) and their impact on social skills development. Few studies relate engagement in ECAs and CCAs with social skills development, and much less in the context of transnational and/or Sino-foreign higher education. This case study adopts an overarching exploratory research paradigm mobilizing quantitative and qualitative data collection in a concurrent mixed-methods approach. This study proposes an original conceptual framework for curricular, co-curricular and extracurricular activities in the context of a Sino-foreign higher education, such as the University of Nottingham Ningbo China. Suggestions for students to develop social skills through participation in ECAs and CCAs and suggestions for university staff to improve the offer and quality of ECAs and CCAs are investigated. Results of this study provide insights of relevance for both students and staff in the context of Sino-foreign higher education.

Keywords:

• Co-curricular activities
• extracurricular activities
• social skills development
• Sino-foreign cooperative university
• transnational higher education

Disclosure Statement

Two of the interviewees for stage 2 qualitative interviews were students previously taught by one of the researchers. There are no competing interests to declare.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Wenwen Zhang

Wenwen Zhang is a PhD candidate in the School of Education and English at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China.

Candace Veecock

Candace Veecock is an Assistant Professor of Applied Linguistics/ELT in the School of Education and English at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China.