Extending the Capstone Model for Social Good

Capstone units occur at the culmination of a course and provide students with the opportunity to synthesise and apply their acquired knowledge in a practical, real-world setting. This form of project-based, experiential learning allows students to gain confidence and develop a deeper understanding of the subject matter. They also represent an opportunity to expose students to real-world problems, engage with industry to improve job readiness and deliver social good with adequate preparation, logistics and educational design. This paper describes the experience gained over twelve semesters, coordinating a large cohort of students undertaking their capstone projects as part of the Master of Project Management course at a large Australian university. In addressing the challenge of finding suitable projects for students, an effort was made to “open up” the program and engage with a range of community and Not-for-Profit (NFP) organisations. The opportunities and challenges presented to educators looking to scale capstones to support large student cohorts while addressing sustainability and social issues are discussed from different stakeholders' perspectives, including the student experience and learning; industry and community sponsors; the coordination and administrative effort and the institutional support necessary to provide the program. The contribution made by this paper is in the development of an extended model for capstone programs that consider stakeholder viewpoints when providing students with a rich learning experience that engages their local community. This requires both capstones' pedagogical and logistical aspects to be considered when educators develop a capstone program. Doing so addresses many of the recognised limitations and difficulties associated with coordinating industry and community engagement programs like capstones. When considered holistically, such programs can form a virtuous cycle that offers value to all stakeholders while becoming an engine for social good by linking an institution and its students with alumni, industry partners and local communities.