Umeå universitets logga

This case study illustrates how changes in course structure and study program increase students' personal and interpersonal skills. The didactic methods used are based on CDIO and project management and the purpose of the implemented changes has been to increase the employability of the students, giving them a professional identity and increase their selfconfidence.

To follow the CDIO approach (CDIO, 2010) by integrating project management as a recurring element throughout the program, give students the opportunity to practice generic skills on several occasions and in different contexts. To provide this, the program was restricted in 2011, one of the changes was to let students take a project management course in the first semester of their education. During this course, the students receive professional knowledge and skills that is meant to be further used in following project-based courses. To ensure progression, two strategic courses: Web and Multimedia Production and News Production for Television were revised in the autumn of 2013.

The result shows that the well-implemented changes to the program and courses has led to an environment of increased personal and interpersonal skills for the students. Lecturers within the program highlight that students at a higher degree work more independently, execute projects more successfully and deliver better presentations in subsequent project-based subject-related courses. Moreover, it is also shown that the student group has taken more responsibility in projects and for their own role in the learning process. Analyzing the results, it is clear that the students have grown as individuals since they obtained a clearer identity as production manager and feel more confident before the final degree project and future career.