Developing University Students’ Transferable Skills Through Object-Based and Collaborative Learning

This empirical paper reports on the findings of a pilot study that aimed to explore student attitudes towards the innovative use of the arts to develop university students’ transferable skills. Postgraduate business and management students were taken to a local museum and nearby art gallery to unde...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Victoria Jackson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pact4Youth Association 2025-04-01
Series:GiLE Journal of Skills Development
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.gjsd.gile-edu.org/index.php/home/article/view/215
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849308093274390528
author Victoria Jackson
author_facet Victoria Jackson
author_sort Victoria Jackson
collection DOAJ
description This empirical paper reports on the findings of a pilot study that aimed to explore student attitudes towards the innovative use of the arts to develop university students’ transferable skills. Postgraduate business and management students were taken to a local museum and nearby art gallery to undertake a guided object-based learning activity. The art centre activities were designed to help students to learn, practice and develop key transferable skills through collaboration in an experiential learning setting. Methods: A questionnaire was dispersed to the students after the second trip had taken place, to ascertain student feedback on both their experience and skill development because of the object-based learning approach. Results: Of the 21 students who took part in the museum and art gallery trips, a total of 19 completed the questionnaire. The results show that the students found their visits to the museum and art gallery to be valuable, enjoyable, and social, while also gaining new skills. The quantitative and qualitative analysis supports that these experiences were especially effective in fostering discussions among students, promoting critical thinking through object-based learning, and allowing students to compare their perspectives with those of their peers. This study supports the use of informal learning environments like museums and galleries as they can be highly effective in complementing traditional classroom education by encouraging deeper engagement and support a shift toward more interactive, discussion-driven education. This deeper learning approach fosters critical thinking, cultural competence, and teamwork, thus simulates key skills employers seek in the workplace.
format Article
id doaj-art-b1522af5e88f4fbca4b7a6c9acf60f8d
institution Kabale University
issn 2732-3781
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Pact4Youth Association
record_format Article
series GiLE Journal of Skills Development
spelling doaj-art-b1522af5e88f4fbca4b7a6c9acf60f8d2025-08-20T03:54:33ZengPact4Youth AssociationGiLE Journal of Skills Development2732-37812025-04-015110.52398/gjsd.2025.v5.i1.pp116-130Developing University Students’ Transferable Skills Through Object-Based and Collaborative LearningVictoria Jackson0Liverpool John Moores University This empirical paper reports on the findings of a pilot study that aimed to explore student attitudes towards the innovative use of the arts to develop university students’ transferable skills. Postgraduate business and management students were taken to a local museum and nearby art gallery to undertake a guided object-based learning activity. The art centre activities were designed to help students to learn, practice and develop key transferable skills through collaboration in an experiential learning setting. Methods: A questionnaire was dispersed to the students after the second trip had taken place, to ascertain student feedback on both their experience and skill development because of the object-based learning approach. Results: Of the 21 students who took part in the museum and art gallery trips, a total of 19 completed the questionnaire. The results show that the students found their visits to the museum and art gallery to be valuable, enjoyable, and social, while also gaining new skills. The quantitative and qualitative analysis supports that these experiences were especially effective in fostering discussions among students, promoting critical thinking through object-based learning, and allowing students to compare their perspectives with those of their peers. This study supports the use of informal learning environments like museums and galleries as they can be highly effective in complementing traditional classroom education by encouraging deeper engagement and support a shift toward more interactive, discussion-driven education. This deeper learning approach fosters critical thinking, cultural competence, and teamwork, thus simulates key skills employers seek in the workplace. https://www.gjsd.gile-edu.org/index.php/home/article/view/215postgraduate skillsobject-based learningexperiential learningmuseumart gallery
spellingShingle Victoria Jackson
Developing University Students’ Transferable Skills Through Object-Based and Collaborative Learning
GiLE Journal of Skills Development
postgraduate skills
object-based learning
experiential learning
museum
art gallery
title Developing University Students’ Transferable Skills Through Object-Based and Collaborative Learning
title_full Developing University Students’ Transferable Skills Through Object-Based and Collaborative Learning
title_fullStr Developing University Students’ Transferable Skills Through Object-Based and Collaborative Learning
title_full_unstemmed Developing University Students’ Transferable Skills Through Object-Based and Collaborative Learning
title_short Developing University Students’ Transferable Skills Through Object-Based and Collaborative Learning
title_sort developing university students transferable skills through object based and collaborative learning
topic postgraduate skills
object-based learning
experiential learning
museum
art gallery
url https://www.gjsd.gile-edu.org/index.php/home/article/view/215
work_keys_str_mv AT victoriajackson developinguniversitystudentstransferableskillsthroughobjectbasedandcollaborativelearning