Piloting a Portfolio of Experiential Learning Activities for International Business Students

ABSTRACT

The paper reflects on the practice of implementing a portfolio of experiential learning activities in workshops involving undergraduate students in an international business management module. The aim of the workshops was to bridge the gap between theory and practice and steer students toward an inductive and collaborative learning experience. The paper presents a series of nine activity-based workshops designed to reinforce theoretical concepts taught during lectures. Based on qualitative data from the module evaluation questionnaire, we found that the workshops significantly improved students’ learning experience, as well as enhanced their engagement with the module. This paper provides practitioners with practical materials and insights which can be immediately applied to teaching international business in a classroom environment. Moreover, by implementing a portfolio of experiential learning activities that provides a wide range of opportunities for students to experience first-hand real-world challenges, this approach is expected to aid their learning process at a crucial point of their academic careers.

KEYWORDS:

• Workshop
• teaching
• international business
• portfolio
• experiential learning

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Justin Okoli

Justin Okoli is the Associate Course Director of the BA. International Business Management course at Coventry Business School. He obtained his PhD in crisis decision-making at Middlesex University, UK in 2016 and does research in decision psychology, crisis response, dynamic risk management and qualitative research methods. He is particularly interested in exploring the nexus between expertise, decision-making and task performance within high-staked and time-pressured environments. Justin has published in a number of notable journals and has disseminated his research at top rated international conferences including NDM and SRA.

Nuno Arroteia

Nuno Arroteia is Senior Lecturer at De Monfort University in the UK. He holds a PhD in International Management and Trade. He has 15+ years of industry experience in managerial roles at multinational companies such as Arthur Andersen, Deloitte, UEFA and Carglass. He is a Serial Angel Investor with a portfolio across a diverse range of sectors (ICT, creative industries, life sciences and industrial production). He has held teaching positions in international business, entrepreneurship and management accounting within higher education. His primary research interests are in international business, international entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial finance.

Oliver Barish

Oliver Barish is Senior Lecturer in International Business at Coventry Business School, Coventry University. He received his PhD from Seoul National University and his Licentiate from the University of Zurich. His research interests center on developmental economics, international entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship in transition economies.