A presentation from the STEM Annual Conference 2014.
In the context of enhancing the student learning experience and preparing students for the transition from university into professional careers the focus of this work is on inspiring and nurturing students by promoting active engagement and the latitude to relate learning into a wider non-academic context while also increasing the breadth and depth of existing understanding.
Through a focused collection of activities based on collaboration with industrial partners which enables industry to facilitate and support learning while also putting learning into a wider context and establishes industrial mentorship and active engagement with professional practitioners we have been able to consolidate students existing technical understanding broaden perspectives and stimulate students to actively engage in shaping and widening their own learning experience. By providing initial opportunities leadership and guidance which inspires and motivates students to become active partners we have experienced a natural transition to students being proactive in identifying and adopting new opportunities and alternative methods to develop their technical knowledge but also to enhance their soft enabling skills.
Adopting collaborative learning strategies with industry and wider communities increases student aspirations and engagement and enhances their learning experience while also producing graduates who have superior core discipline knowledge and application and exhibit fundamental graduate attributes such as communication skills enquiry creativity and confidence.
