Bridging the Gap from Classroom-based Learning to Experiential Professional Learning: A Hong Kong Case
Keywords:
Experiential Professional Learning, Internship Program Design, From Students to Professionals
Abstract
This paper describes and evaluates a funded longitudinal teaching development project that aims to bridge the gap from classroom-based theory learning to experiential professional learning, and thereby prepare ideal and competent world class graduates. To align with the University's shared mission to foster links with the business community, the design of the internship program has a threefold purpose and was implemented in stages. It intends to enhance students' professional awareness-knowledge-skills through a multi-leveled approach integrating classroom learning with professional practice. A debriefing mechanism was also built in enabling students to share their learning and professional challenges, and theory application to problem-solving scenarios. A 360 degree multiple evaluation procedure were used to measure the project effectiveness, including the use of industry consultants, student interns, hosts, and academic supervisors. The project has proved to promote closer ties with the business community and enhance students' professional competencies to increase future success in the competitive job market. The impact of the internship program is significant in two aspects. From the perspective of student learning, the internship allows students to understand how they can improve business efficiency by applying communications theories. From the teaching perspective, the successful and unsuccessful intern experiences can be drawn upon in developing class-room teaching. These lessons can focus on preparing students to solve real-world business communication problems.References
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Briel, L., & Getzel, E. (2001). Internships in higher education: Promoting success for students with disabilities. Disability Studies Quarterly, 21(1), 59-76.
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Chen, H., Wang, C., & Chen, C. F. (2011). A study if the effects of internship experiences on the behavioral intentions of colleges students majoring in leisure management in Taiwan. Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sports and Tourism Education, 10(2), 61-73.
Cook, S. J., Parker, S. R., & Pettijohn, C. E. (2004). The perceptions of interns: A longitudinal case study. Journal of Education for Business, 79, 179-185.
Creswell, J. W. (2007). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publication.
Creswell, J. W. (2008). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (2005). Introduction: The discipline and practice of qualitative research. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), The sage handbook of qualitative research (pp. 1-32). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Dillman, D. (1978). Total design method. New York: Wiley.
Du-Babcock, B., & Babcock, R. (2000). Adapting an American-based Simulation to a Hong Kong Classroom. (2000). Business Communication Quarterly, 63(2), 9-40.
Gault, J., Leach, E., & Duey, M. (2010). Effects of business internships on job marketability: The employers' perspective. Education and Training, 52(1), 76-88.
Gault, J., Redington, J., & Schlager, T. (2000). Undergraduate business internships and career success: Are they related? Journal of Marketing Education, 22, 45-53. DOI: 10.1177/0273475300221006
Getzel, E. E., Briel, L. W., & Kregel, J. (2000). Comprehensive career planning: The VCU career connections program. Journal of Work, 14, 41-49.
Gordon, G., Hage, H., & McBride, R. (2001). Criminal justice internships: Theory into practice (Fourth ed.). Cincinnati, OH: Anderson Publishing.
Hymon-Parker, S. (1998). Benefits and limitations of internships as viewed by educators and retailers/commentary. Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences, 90, 76-81.
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Kuh, G. D. (2008). High-impact education practices: What they are, who has access to them, and why they matter. Washington, DC: Association of American Colleges and Universities.
Kysor, D. V., & Pierce, M. A. (2000). Does intern/co-op experience translate into career progress and satisfaction? Journal of Career Planning & Employment, 60(2), 25- 31.
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National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). (2011). NACE Poistion Statement on U.S. Internships. Retrieved from http://www.naceweb.org/ connections/advocacy/internship_position_paper/#
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Phoebe, W. K. (2010, April 29). Determinants of internship effectiveness for university students in Hong Kong (unpublished doctoral dissertation). Hong Kong Baptist University, China.
Radigan, J. (2009). The role of internships in higher education. Retrieved on July 20, 2016 from http://www.asee.org
Reardon, R., Lenz, J., & Folsom, B. (1998). Employer ratings of student participation in non-classroom-based activities: Findings from a campus survey. Journal of Career Planning & Employment, 58(4), 36-39.
Ross, L. E., & Elechi, O. (2002). Student attitudes towards internship experiences: From theory to practice. Journal of Criminal Justice Education, 13(2), 297-312. doi: 10.1080/10511250200085491
Stone, W. E., & McLauren, J. (1999). Assessing the undergraduate intern experience.
Journal of Criminal Justice Education, 10, 171-183.
Storey, K. L. (2010). Bridging the gap: Linking co-curricular activities to student learning outcomes in community college students (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from http://digitalcommons.nl.edu
Swift, C. O., & Russell, K. (1999). Business school internships: Legal concerns. Journal of Education for Business, 75, 23-26.
Tackett, J., Wolf, F., & Law, D. (2001). Accounting interns and their employers: Conflicting perceptions. Ohio CPA Journal, 60, 54-56.
Verney, T. P., Holoviak, S. J., & Winter, A. S. (2009). Enhancing the reliability of internship evaluations. The Journal of Applied Business and Economics, 9(1), 22.
Westwood, R. (1992). Organizational behavior: Southeast Asian perspectives. Hong Kong: Longman.
Williams, T. E. (2002). Challenges in supporting student learning and success through student services. New Directions for Community Colleges, 117, 67-76.
Briel, L., & Getzel, E. (2001). Internships in higher education: Promoting success for students with disabilities. Disability Studies Quarterly, 21(1), 59-76.
Bukaliya, R. (2012). The potential benefits and challenges of internship programs in an ODL institution: A case for the the Zimbabwe open university. International Journal on New Trends in Education, 3(1), 118-133.
Carey, K. (2013, January 30). Giving credit, but is it due? The New York Times, p. ED12.
Cates-McIver, L. (1998). The value of internships and co-op opportunities for college students. The Black Collegian, 29(1), 72-73.
Chen, H., Wang, C., & Chen, C. F. (2011). A study if the effects of internship experiences on the behavioral intentions of colleges students majoring in leisure management in Taiwan. Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sports and Tourism Education, 10(2), 61-73.
Cook, S. J., Parker, S. R., & Pettijohn, C. E. (2004). The perceptions of interns: A longitudinal case study. Journal of Education for Business, 79, 179-185.
Creswell, J. W. (2007). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publication.
Creswell, J. W. (2008). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (2005). Introduction: The discipline and practice of qualitative research. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), The sage handbook of qualitative research (pp. 1-32). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Dillman, D. (1978). Total design method. New York: Wiley.
Du-Babcock, B., & Babcock, R. (2000). Adapting an American-based Simulation to a Hong Kong Classroom. (2000). Business Communication Quarterly, 63(2), 9-40.
Gault, J., Leach, E., & Duey, M. (2010). Effects of business internships on job marketability: The employers' perspective. Education and Training, 52(1), 76-88.
Gault, J., Redington, J., & Schlager, T. (2000). Undergraduate business internships and career success: Are they related? Journal of Marketing Education, 22, 45-53. DOI: 10.1177/0273475300221006
Getzel, E. E., Briel, L. W., & Kregel, J. (2000). Comprehensive career planning: The VCU career connections program. Journal of Work, 14, 41-49.
Gordon, G., Hage, H., & McBride, R. (2001). Criminal justice internships: Theory into practice (Fourth ed.). Cincinnati, OH: Anderson Publishing.
Hymon-Parker, S. (1998). Benefits and limitations of internships as viewed by educators and retailers/commentary. Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences, 90, 76-81.
Jackel, D. (2011). Evaluating the Effectiveness of an Internship Program. Master’s Theses & Specialist Projects. Paper 1117. http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/1117
Jaschik, S. (January 20, 2015). Well-Prepared in Their Own Eyes. Retrieved July 28, 2016 from https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/01/20/study-finds-big-gaps-between-student-and-employer-perceptions
Kuh, G. D. (2000). Understanding campus environments. In M. J. Barr, & M. K. Desler, (Eds.), The handbook of student affairs administration (2nd ed., pp. 50-72). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Publishers.
Kuh, G. D. (2008). High-impact education practices: What they are, who has access to them, and why they matter. Washington, DC: Association of American Colleges and Universities.
Kysor, D. V., & Pierce, M. A. (2000). Does intern/co-op experience translate into career progress and satisfaction? Journal of Career Planning & Employment, 60(2), 25- 31.
Lewin, K. (1946). Action research and minority problems. Journal of Social Issues, 2(4), 34-46. Reprinted in Deakin University (1988). The action research reader. Geelong: Deakin University.
Lubbers, C.A. (2000). What is service learning? Paper presented at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, Phoenix, AZ.
National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). (2001). NACE Poistion Statement on U.S. Internships. Retrieved from http://www.naceweb.org/ connections/advocacy/internship_position_paper/#
National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). (2010). NACE Poistion Statement on U.S. Internships. Retrieved from http://www.naceweb.org/ connections/advocacy/internship_position_paper/#
National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). (2011). NACE Poistion Statement on U.S. Internships. Retrieved from http://www.naceweb.org/ connections/advocacy/internship_position_paper/#
National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). (2013). NACE Poistion Statement on U.S. Internships. Retrieved from http://www.naceweb.org/ connections/advocacy/internship_position_paper/#
Phoebe, W. K. (2010, April 29). Determinants of internship effectiveness for university students in Hong Kong (unpublished doctoral dissertation). Hong Kong Baptist University, China.
Radigan, J. (2009). The role of internships in higher education. Retrieved on July 20, 2016 from http://www.asee.org
Reardon, R., Lenz, J., & Folsom, B. (1998). Employer ratings of student participation in non-classroom-based activities: Findings from a campus survey. Journal of Career Planning & Employment, 58(4), 36-39.
Ross, L. E., & Elechi, O. (2002). Student attitudes towards internship experiences: From theory to practice. Journal of Criminal Justice Education, 13(2), 297-312. doi: 10.1080/10511250200085491
Stone, W. E., & McLauren, J. (1999). Assessing the undergraduate intern experience.
Journal of Criminal Justice Education, 10, 171-183.
Storey, K. L. (2010). Bridging the gap: Linking co-curricular activities to student learning outcomes in community college students (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from http://digitalcommons.nl.edu
Swift, C. O., & Russell, K. (1999). Business school internships: Legal concerns. Journal of Education for Business, 75, 23-26.
Tackett, J., Wolf, F., & Law, D. (2001). Accounting interns and their employers: Conflicting perceptions. Ohio CPA Journal, 60, 54-56.
Verney, T. P., Holoviak, S. J., & Winter, A. S. (2009). Enhancing the reliability of internship evaluations. The Journal of Applied Business and Economics, 9(1), 22.
Westwood, R. (1992). Organizational behavior: Southeast Asian perspectives. Hong Kong: Longman.
Williams, T. E. (2002). Challenges in supporting student learning and success through student services. New Directions for Community Colleges, 117, 67-76.
Published
2016-12-12
How to Cite
Du-Babcock, B. (2016). Bridging the Gap from Classroom-based Learning to Experiential Professional Learning: A Hong Kong Case. Dinamika Ilmu, 16(2), 181-199. https://doi.org/10.21093/di.v16i2.527
Section
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