Using empirical based case studies to improve motivation, non-technical skills and content learning: a longitudinal study of an EHEA experience

Abstract

This work was aimed at determining case-studies’ impact on real companies regarding acquiring knowledge, developing non-technical ability and student motivation. A longitudinal study was thus carried out from 2004-05 to 2007-08, during which accountancy students from the tourism management course carried out real case studies, in groups of three, for becoming familiar with how to prepare and use management information in truism companies within their real context. The results showed that case-studies, carried out by students working as part of a group, in real companies directly increased motivation, improved acquiring knowledge and, above all, fomented developing non-technical ability, such as oral and written communication skills, team-work, searching for information, managing computer applications, improving analysis, synthesis and critical ability

Keywords

• ability
• real case-study
• European higher education space
• longitudinal study
• accounting for tourism management