Development Process and Outcome Assessment of Student Skill Development in the 21st Century Through House Project Activities in an Integrated Project-Based Learning

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of the House Project offered by Thai-Nichi Institute of Technology (TNI) as a component of degree program of international business management and the extent to which students gain competencies in 21st century skills from extracurricular activities. Qualitative methodology, focus group interviews and literature reviews are used to achieve the objectives and to collect data. Study finds that students gain unique skills which they never think of obtaining from the classroom-based teaching learning process. This finding implicates that some other factors either inherent or embedded in students, and the context specific may have superseded the capacities of students, and the level of monitoring and supervision. Dynamism in teamwork, dedication, commitment, and the effectiveness in communication are found to be major success factors. Furthermore, it is found that the House Project has enabled students to improve their leadership skills, decision making abilities, flexibility, and cooperation in carrying out a task together. Appropriateness and difficulties in financing, transparency in finance, accounting & reporting, and dealing with egoism and emotional intelligence are found to be the areas which need improvements. Interestingly, increased competition brings innovative ideas and successes instead while cooperation and shared information within team members and among projects tend to create more value and enhance capacities.