STUDENT’S SOFT SKILL ACQUISITION IN AN OUTDOOR ADVENTURE EDUCATION EVENT OVER TWO YEARS OF PARTICIPATION

Year 2016, Volume: 8 Issue: 2, 196 - 208, 01.12.2016

S. J. Roos A. Lennox C. Botha-ravyse

Abstract

Outdoor Adventure Education can be used to develop and hone the transferable or
so called soft skills such as group work and problem-solving skills in higher
education. These skills are also much needed to ensure employability. An outdoor
adventure activity was developed and implemented by lecturers in order to bridge
this gap between university and the industry in order to hone the transferable
skills of students studying sport and recreation. Data were collected over two
years. Two hundred students participated in the research study with a mean age of
22±4 years. Data were collected qualitatively and analysed and subsequently
numerically coded to ensure statistical analyses. Analyses indicated no statistical
differences between skills learned in the first and second year. Students were then
divided into first time and second time participants and statistical differences were
found. The second time participants reported mostly on leadership skills learned
and first time participants on teamwork. Implementing an outdoor Adventure
Education event was effective in developing skills in students much needed for success in higher education as well as becoming well-rounded individuals whom possess all the qualities for rewarding employment

Keywords

Students, soft skills, adventure education, OAE, recreation

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