Agile methodologies in times of pandemic: acquisition of employment skills in higher education

Abstract

Purpose

This research aims to focus on analysing the opinion of university students on the effects that agile methodologies are having on their education during this time of pandemic that is affecting the normal functioning of on-site universities. Specifically, the authors intend to analyse the effect that different constructs have on the development of their skills for labour markets through the application of agile methodologies in blended learning. Thus, the authors will analyse the effects of intrinsic motivation, the interactivity of the system, the involvement of students, their engagement to these activities and their level of satisfaction with this training process.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted research based on the use of agile methodologies applied to higher education. To this end, various activities were designed within different subjects in marketing area. 115 business students were consulted, who valued their experience and the usefulness of this methodology in relation to the improvement of the learning process.

Findings

The results of the research show the usefulness of agile methodologies for university students. In addition, these methodologies allow them to develop certain skills that will be important for labour markets, such as teamwork, motivation and engagement to tasks to be developed.

Originality/value

The main value of this research lies in the application of a methodology from the business environment in higher education and the subsequent analysis of the students' assessment of these agile methodologies in terms of their usefulness for their professional future. Moreover, this application of agile methodologies has been carried out in an unusual environment due to the pandemic situation that has changed the usual development of face-to-face university training towards the application of e-learning methodologies.

Citation

Canales-Ronda, P. and Aragonés-Jericó, C. (2022), "Agile methodologies in times of pandemic: acquisition of employment skills in higher education", Education + Training, Vol. 64 No. 6, pp. 811-825. https://doi.org/10.1108/ET-12-2021-0445