Participatory learning in residential weekends: benefit or barrier to learning for the international student?

Abstract

The context for this research is a residential learning weekend which is embedded into all postgraduate programmes at Newcastle Business School via a management development module entitled ‘Developing Self’. The objective of this study was to identify and explore how participatory learning in multicultural groups enables international students to increase their self-awareness and to develop team-building and leadership skills. Using an interpretivist methodology comprising semi-structured interviews with 14 self-selected international students, the data are analysed using the funnel structure of progressive focusing and is presented alongside a number of illuminating quotes. Our findings show that students perceive participatory learning to provide significant benefits to their studies as well as their future career as managers.

Keywords:

• higher education
• participatory learning
• intercultural learning
• cultural diversity
• management development