What Young People Need: 21st-Century Skills Obtained by Cultural Participation

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 5
  In Roundtable Session: College Student Learning and Development Roundtable 2

Abstract

To become successful in today’s working life, young people do not only have to acquire job specific competencies, but should also possess twenty-first century skills. This study investigated students' perceptions of their twenty-first century skills induced by participation in a cultural program. The aim of this paper was to investigate whether cultural participation positively influenced twenty-first century skills from a student’s perspective. To that end, an online survey containing (semi) open questions was administered to collect qualitative data from students who participated in a cultural program at a Dutch University of Applied Sciences. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data. Findings suggest that cultural participation can contribute to students’ educational experiences and to their skills development.

Authors

• Hans Reijnierse, HZ University

• Ingrid Snijders, HZ University of Applied Sciences