Developing soft skills and learning outcomes of business management students in project management

This review paper attempts to discuss the relevance of adopting project management approach in managing student group projects, specifically in institutions of higher learning (IHL). A group project refers to a unique, group work assignment to be carried out in a team of 10 students or more either at class or faculty level. The student's group assignment must fulfill these criteria: defined project objectives, use of resources, reporting, assessments and grading as part of the academic curriculum or program requirements. The group assignment is either embedded in the academic courses such as: Current Issues, Personal Development, Project Management, and Occupational Safety Management; or as part of the course requirements such as to organize academic visits or seminars. Group project also refers to stand-alone university and co-curriculum courses, or as part of the faculty, colleges and university requirements such as organizing field trips, community services, event management programs that are compulsory requirements (with grading) for graduation. The objectives of student's group project are to develop students' soft skills, communication, leadership and teamwork skills; and personal development skills using practical approach and exposure of students to the realities of the world. Degree students in this faculty are given opportunities to organize group projects that are intended to achieve these objectives. This is in line with Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) and university requirements to produce holistic and skilful graduates; and to achieve the desired graduate attributes. The students are evaluated in their learning outcomes, course and program outcomes upon completion of these projects. They are expected to demonstrate their capabilities, psychomotor skills, affective values and deliver the expected learning outcomes upon graduation and towards realization of the program educational objectives as stipulated by the Faculty of Business Management of this university in its newly designed outcome-based education (OBE).