EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

Purpose

Experiential learning, or learning by doing, is a pedagogic and professional development strategy that creates opportunities for students to develop competencies and skills that are highly valued by employers and professional communities.

The students will be advised to immerse in three types of real-world activities:

• Getting experience - we encourage students to get experience through internships, assisting faculty with research, capitalizing academic projects, study trips, participating in campus activities, joining student clubs, getting a part-time job, obtaining summer work, doing volunteer work, or starting a business.

• Accessing professional networks – students will learn about the most influential professional networks in fields such as accounting, finance, insurance, human resources, marketing, and project management. Accessing professional networks will be important for students to learn about industry trends and career opportunities in their fields of interest. These networks include local and global professional organizations.

• Getting connected – every student has many people in his/her network. We will prepare and advise students about managing their network of contacts and uncover additional contacts. Students participate in events organized by the university as well as events organized outside. Through our career services we will help students to have an open mind and acquire essential career skills.

Immersion

Regardless of what type of activities students will choose, the cycle of learning comprises three stages: students participate in real-world learning experiences; reflect on those experiences to create meaning from them; and apply their learning in other aspects of their lives.

Immersion in experiential learning exposes students to organizations, people, and challenges that are rich in interactions, openness, and improvisation. First, students must participate actively in the experience. Second, they will need to think and analyze the experience, both during and after experience, to create meaning and identify what has been learned.  Third, the student will apply the acquired learning to inform current and future decisions and actions.

Mentorship

During the experiential learning students will receive mentorship from academic advisors of the Faculty and/or professional mentors within the host organization. Experiential learning requires educators to provide explicit instruction in the skills of reflection and to assist students in developing the habit of looking for the learning that can be drawn from all life experiences.