The document discusses project-based education and its importance. It describes how Saxion University of Applied Sciences uses an action-learning model where both lecturers and students work on real-life projects. Students acquire basic knowledge in classes and then apply it through progressively more complex practical projects for companies. This prepares students for starting businesses and accommodates learning-by-doing styles. Challenges include ensuring lecturers have strong coaching skills and managing confidential client information. Examples provided are the Multus student business project and a Dutch-Russian Autumn Business School program.

1. Project-based &
Competence based
education
Jacques Bazen
School of Business, Building and Technology
Saxion University of Applied Sciences
For Time2Teach forum in Russia, October 2013

2. Overview
1. The importance of project based education
2. How it works
3. Opportunities/Risks
4. Some examples

3. The importance of
project-based education
Why we at Saxion felt our education system needed to change:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmwwrGV_aiE

4. The importance of
project-based education
• As educational model for our study programs
we use the Action-learning principle
• Both lecturers and students work on real life
projects (lecturer has also role of coach)
• Needs constant reflection also by the lecturer
about application of
theory in practice:
paradigm change for
lecturing
Effectivity of learning methods

5. How it works:
Theoretical Background
• As theoretical model for the teaching itself, we
use the “Four stages of competence model”,
attributed to Abraham Maslow.
• Learning any skill develops in four stages:
–
–
–
–
Unconscious incompetence
Conscious incompetence
Conscious competence
Unconscious competence

6. How it works:
Theoretical background
• To move from one learning stage to the
next, we adopted the Experiential learning
model by David A. Kolb
- Concrete experience
(and conceptualization
of abstract ideas)
- Active experimentation
(and reflective
observation)

7. How it works: steps
• The student gets only basic knowledge
during classes in the university.
• In the first year, students have to work on a
student business project Multus
• Relatively strong guidance of lecturers

8. How it works: steps
• In the later study years, still students are
taught basic knowledge in classes.
• But complete their learning experience by
doing practical projects for companies, eg.:
- customer satisfaction research
- marketing plan
- improvement of logistics
- product cost calculation
• The graduation thesis can be a company
assignment or own business plan

9. Opportunities/Risks
Opportunities:
• Students have more freedom to choose
their own study path and specialization by
selecting practical projects
• Prepares students for starting their own
business
• The best teaching method for students who
prefer “learning-by-doing” (Accommodating
learning style according to David A. Kolb)

10. Opportunities/Risks
Challenges:
• Lecturers must have good coaching
capacities, otherwise it becomes a mess
• Students are working on real projects, so
companies expect real result…
• Students and universities have to deal with
confidential information…
• Functioning of this model requires mutual
trust between university, student and
company

11. Overview
Basic knowledge aquired during classes
Student
Graduation
Practical knowledge aquisition, becoming more and more complex

12. Practical examples
Student
Graduation at
Business Development team

13. Dutch-Russian Autumn
Business School
• Other example of action based learning:
• From 30 September to 4 October, the 1st
Dutch-Russian Autumn Business School
took place at Herzen State Pedagogical
University.
• Practical based study program, students
were doing research for the Dutch company
Matel Metaal that would like to be active on
the Russian Market.

14. Dutch-Russian Autumn
Business School
The Autumn school was organized in
collaboration with:
- Herzen University + Saxion University of
applied Sciences
- Dutch & Russian ministries of Foreign
affairs, within the framework of the bilateral year
- Russian Federation of women with higher
education
- World Trade Center Twente
- Matel Metaal company
More information at:
http://schoolmanag.herzen.spb.ru

15. More information
In case you would like to know more detailed
information, please don’t hesitate to send me
a message:
Jacques Bazen
Lecturer/researcher Entrepreneurship &
Regional Economic Development
M.H. Tromplaan 28
7513 AB Enschede, tel. +31534871488
e-mail: j.c.bazen@saxion.nl

16. Thank you for your attention!