Article Green Open Access 2018

A framework for critical reflection in sport management education and graduate employability

Annals of Leisure Research
Journal · Vol. 21 · Issue 2 · pp. 227-245
Abstract

Sport management education is increasingly including opportunities for critical reflection in both formal and informal learning environments to improve graduate employability. This paper outlines potential reasons why there is disconnect between the skills employers want in the sport industry and the skills that sport management programmes equip graduates with. The findings of this review suggest that critical reflection in tertiary sport management education is individually oriented, and neglects the social dimensions and other contextual aspects (e.g. organizational culture) of the sport industry. This paper proposes an operationalization of critical reflection into three individual dimensions (experimentation, asking for feedback, and career awareness) and three social dimensions (challenging group-think, openness about mistakes, and sharing ideas). The paper concludes with suggestions for further research and higher education policy direction that combines formal and informal learning environments in enhancing the social aspects of critical reflection in sport management curricula. © 2017 Australia and New Zealand Association of Leisure Studies.

Keywords

Author Keywords

Internship work-integrated learning Graduate employability Critical reflection sport management education

Index Keywords

Author Affiliations
Griffith Business School, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Funding & Acknowledgements
No funding information
References 10 References
1 Aarkrog, Vibe, Learning in the workplace and the significance of school-based education: A study of learning in a Danish vocational education and training programme, International Journal of Lifelong Education, 24, 2, pp. 137-147, (2005)
2 Understanding Organizational Culture, (2002)
3 Amis, John M., Rupture: Promoting critical and innovative approaches to the study of sport management, Journal of Sport Management, 19, 4, pp. 355-366, (2005)
4 Antonacopoulou, Elena P., Making the business school more 'critical': Reflexive critique based on phronesis as a foundation for impact, British Journal of Management, 21, SUPPL. 1, pp. s6-s25, (2010)
5 Theory in Practice Increasing Professional Effectiveness, (1974)
6 Organizational Learning II Theory Method and Practice, (1996)
7 Atkinson, Lyn, Online resources for work integrated learning: A case study in re-usability and flexibility, ASCILITE 2005 - The Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education, pp. 37-45, (2005)
8 Baartman, Liesbeth K.J., Comparing students' perceived and actual competence in higher vocational education, Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, 36, 4, pp. 385-398, (2011)
9 Berings, Marjolein G.M.C., Methodological practices in on-the-job learning research, Human Resource Development International, 9, 3, pp. 333-363, (2006)
10 Developing A Thinking Skills Program, (1988)
Quick Actions
Full Text via DOI
Citation Metrics
26
Times Cited (Scopus)

References 10
Document Identifiers