Developing professional skills through facilitated dialogue

Abstract

This article is a part of developing Experimental Development Ecosystem (EDE). EDE is a framework including researchers from University of Applied Sciences and a Technological University, students from both institutes, team entrepreneurs and lecturers, local enterprises and local cities. Learner-centric methods utilized with team entrepreneurs and practioners have now been tested in other contexts as well. The article summarizes the experiences of piloting method of professional dialogue with (1) study course for professional MBA students in the international study programme (2) research project, and (3) long term coaching process. In the study, survey data and field notes from observations of dialogues are used as main data sources. Ongoing discussions and feedback from stakeholder groups of the EDE have served as a secondary source of data. The data was analyzed with qualitative data analysis methods. Grounded theory is used as method for data analysis. The framework for developing the EDE has been action research. The data shows that students are usually both motivated and excited about professional dialogue as a learning method. It was also revealed that making oneself familiar with professional dialogue requires repetition and reflection of what has been learned. The reflection needs to cover both content and process to be successful. As a consequence, this the method is also showing good results in learning as the students who graduate are having excellent competences for working life. Local company representatives have also expressed their satisfaction to knowledge, skills, and character of the graduates. Therefore, the professional dialogue is currently spread to other student groups studying bachelor and master studies.