Use of a scenario-based business simulation to enhance employability skills of first year computing students

A presentation from the STEM Annual Conference 2014.

This presentation gives a personal account reflecting on small-group co-operative learning amongst first year computing students based on the use in five academic sessions of SimVenture a total enterprise scenario-based simulation normally used in business schools to teach entrepreneurial skills.

Given here is a novel application of the simulation as part of a large module (c120 students on various computing degrees) to enhance students’ employability by: improving teamwork; reflecting on decision making; synthesising information to incorporate business data; and designing and giving presentations.