Understanding students' perceptions and attitude toward learning about internships in a business school

PurposeInternships are an integral part of a college curriculum, yet students are sometimes unaware of how to secure this opportunity. This research aims to determine efficient methods to provide information to students within the given majors, identify barriers on what is stopping students from seeking out internships earlier and identify the appropriate time for students to receive internship information.Design/methodology/approachThis study undertook descriptive research in a preliminary investigation of the undergraduate business students' attitude toward learning about the internship program offered by a business school of a state funded university in Michigan, USA. The data-collection instrument consisted of structured closed-ended questions relevant to undergraduate business students' perceptions and attitude toward learning about the internship program.FindingsThe results of this survey of 631 undergraduate students revealed a relationship between gender and the willingness to gain information about internships. Additional findings revealed that students who received information at the beginning of their schooling were more likely to plan for the internship in advance. Finally, students who preferred to receive information about internships multiple times were most likely to contact their academic advisor or internship director for more resources.Originality/valueTogether, the results of these findings can be used for current institution and other business schools with similar setting to reduce the barriers students face and allow undergraduate business students greater accessibility to internship positions.

Undergraduate Business Student’s Self-Assessment of Meta-Competencies in the Context of the Final Year Projects

While research on competence-based assessment has grown, scholars have conducted fewer studies on an integrative view of competence acquisition, in the context of the final year project, that have particularly addressed the meta-competence approach. This paper examines undergraduate business students’ perceived acquisition of competencies during the development of their final year project and tries to determine relevant differences among the set of competencies students’ value most. The study gathered quantitative data by using a questionnaire applied to students after their presentation of the final degree project at a Spanish Business School. The findings show the emergence of three profiles of students based on their competencies acquisition. The profiles display an interconnected relation and put forward some shortfalls in competence acquisition as well as propose an emerging profile of the meta-competent student.

Prince Kola Beverages Limited (PKBL)

Prince Kola Beverages Limited (PKBL) is an introduction-level decision modelling case that aims to help develop what-if analysis and spreadsheet modelling skills. It has already been taught in three cohorts of my executive course customized for Coca Cola Beverages Pakistan (CCBPL) Limited middle managers, ‘Data Savvy Decision-Making’, and was warmly received. It is also suitable for both MBA and undergraduate business students. The problem involves using elementary forecasting, scenario analysis and sensitivity analysis without the complexity of statistics. This was also part of a 4-hour session in executive courses that included in-lab trainings on Microsoft Excel what-if analysis tools. For 80–90-minute sessions, students must have already been equipped with these tools. Additionally, it would be better to have the spreadsheets of students submitted by an online learning management system in advance of the class so that their models can be displayed in class and debated.

Undergraduate business students’ perception of auditing: impact of proximity and knowledge on auditors’ stereotype

Purpose This study aims to explore undergraduate students’ stereotypes of auditing and the influence of knowledge of the profession and its sources on the stereotype. Design/methodology/approach This study is based on a questionnaire distributed among 360 undergraduate business students at 21 higher education institutions in Spain. Findings The study reveals that undergraduate business students consider auditors competent and ethical. Auditing is viewed as an interesting and rigorous activity, which requires high responsibility and contributes significantly to society. Students perceive that the auditing career is difficult but contributes to professional development. The knowledge acquired through business studies influences the creation of a positive image of the profession and of auditors. Practical implications The profession could benefit from the fact that having more information about the profession improves students’ perceptions of it. The provision of auditing courses through the degree and related activities to increase the visibility of the profession during the first years of the degree could improve the auditor stereotype and enhance students’ intentions to enter this profession. Originality/value Previous studies have analyzed the image of the accounting professional as a homogeneous professional status. This study specifically addresses the image of auditors, who are at the core of the traditional accounting domain. It analyzes the influence of sources of knowledge (academic training, having familiars and media) on auditors’ stereotypes. Moreover, it provides evidence concerning the perceptions of the new generations (Gen Z).

Gauging reflexive historical thinking: An exploratory study of Columbian undergraduates

This study gauges the development of an historical thinking skill we term reflexive historical thinking and its relationship to economic ideology among a group of undergraduate business students in an introductory history course at a Colombian private university. A survey was conducted twice during a semester in which students answered questions regarding historical agency, personal agency, and economic ideology. We measured the relationships and changes in responses regarding these factors. We hypothesized that students with greater awareness of broad social and economic forces as determinants of historical events would also be aware of an array of social and economic forces informing their personal outlooks. Moreover, we expected such awareness – both historical and personal – to increase during the course. Finally, we wondered how economic ideology influences such awareness. We found little support for the expectation that reflexive historical thinking developed over time, but interesting correlations between historical thinking and economic ideology.

Strategies for Teaching Undergraduate Business Students Data Analytics

Several class sections at a Midwestern, public university were instructed in basic data analytics concepts using SimNet® preparatory assignments with Microsoft Excel®, additional instructional materials, and subsequent analytics projects. Performance on each analytics project was measured against performance on the preparatory Excel assignments as well as the student final course performance. The preparatory assignments prepared students for associated analytics projects as well as the final assessment.

The Effects of Character on the Perceived Stressfulness of Life Events and Subjective Well-Being of Undergraduate Business Students

Stress and the associated correlates, such as depression, alcohol abuse, and suicidal ideation, are a global issue among college and university students. We assert that character is a personal resource that students have at their disposal to address personal, social, and environmental challenges they may encounter in their personal and academic lives. The results of a field study involving undergraduate business students show that character, operationalized as a higher order construct consisting of 11 interrelated dimensions, has a direct effect on the subjective well-being of students and an indirect effect through the perceived stressfulness of life events. Our results imply that it is essential for faculty and students at management education institutions to fully appreciate the importance of character for effective functioning and to develop the various character dimensions to address adverse personal, social, and environmental situations in a positive fashion.