Student experiences of project-based learning in agile project management education

Abstract

Project-based learning (PBL) is applied in various disciplines across the world and its benefits are well known and researched. For the past two decades, undergraduate information systems students at South African universities have been required to develop an artefact as part of a module. This is in the form of a project. PBL was formally applied at a South African university to determine the benefits to the students as well as how to improve the module for future students. The results indicate that all 13 criteria of PBL were met and that the students benefitted from a formal approach. They acquired various skills due to PBL that can be directly applied to the workplace. The results also indicate that PBL and the iterative nature of agile as an approach to develop the artefact complement each other. Although PBL assisted the students in learning, the specific skill set required was not determined and measured. This will form part of future research.