Innovating business communication courses in Oman: from design to implementation

Abstract

The article challenges the conventional formats applied by business and professional education in higher academic institutions in Oman. The shift from the current traditional educational paradigm to more effective and engaging approaches to instruction is proposed through the launch of an alternative teaching/learning model which aims at preparing undergraduate students for the real-life workplace. The suggested model is rooted in the fundamentals of project-based learning pedagogy and based on the principles of collaboration, knowledge exchange and expertise transfer. It transcends the boundaries of academia and business urging both parties to merge under the umbrella of a collaborative educational project and giving rise to an intellectual product which translates interdisciplinary knowledge into a tangible, pragmatic asset for both stakeholders involved.

Keywords:

• project-based learning
• academia–business collaboration
• business communication
• course design
• innovation