How Can Higher Education Contribute to the 21st Century Employability Skills Through Use of Collaborative Learning Design in Business

Twenty-first century jobs in the business sector need graduates with specific transferable skills due to technological disruptions, climate change and supply chain uncertainties in the post-COVID world. The paper uses the self-study method to discuss the potential impact of team formation, teamwork, and team presentations in developing employability skills amongst students. The model of study uses active student engagement techniques and alternative assessment methods in contrast to lecture based, passive learning and traditional assessments in a classroom. The final aim of the study is to develop employability skills among students at the undergraduate level and create lifelong learners with potential careers in business. Teams in F2F or virtual sessions are formed using self-selection method by the students. Students interact with each other in teams remotely and/or face-to-face and develop communication and technology skills (Asikainen et al. in Stud. Educ. Eval. 43:197–205, 2014). Teams work together throughout the semester to prepare and present the project and, in the process, develop several transferable or employability skills for career readiness in business. Peer evaluation of team presentations helps to develop critical thinking skills among students and enables them to recognize the value of providing and receiving critical feedback for future project preparation and presentation in their career.