Managing Client Engagement In Experiential-Learning Consulting Projects

Authors:

Keywords: Experiential learning, active learning, client-based projects

Abstract: Experiential-learning pedagogy gives students valuable exposure to real-world situations. The most authentic experiential-learning business course design involves client-based projects, in which students serve as clients for actual businesspeople to help them solve a business problem. In this symposium, we explore the unique pedagogical structure of client-based courses, which inherently position clients as authority figures and sources of learning. We share findings from our research on the different role expectations that clients bring to their interactions with students, and we engage participants in dialogue on the implications of these findings as well as best practices in successfully managing project client engagement.