Collaboration as Innovative Teaching and Learning Strategy: A Case Study of Integrated Marketing Communication (COM2014) for Quality Education Sustainability (SDG4)

Abstract

This paper explores a course taught by School of Arts at Sunway University Malaysia, for second year Bachelor of Communication and Bachelor of Advertising and Branding students. The course focuses on planning and executing marketing campaign using various communication channels like the social media. The assessments given are coursework based and no final examination as it is believed that courseworks are able to measure a greater range of abilities than exam (Kniveton, 1996). Besides, coursework marks are a better predictor of long-term learning of course than exams (Gibbs & Simpson, 2004). This is due to the experience they gained from conducting the coursework will enable students to practice the knowledge in their work-life. This paper is case study research done by the instructor herself, after teaching this course for several years, and changed the assessment to suits the up-to-date market demand. Collaboration for the course was signed in a Memorandum of Understanding to give students opportunity of full experience in running actual campaigns with the university’s industry partner, Sunway Malls because collaboration will be an essential skill for students this era (Redecker et al., 2011). Assessments were improvised as literature shows that as a teacher, the lecturer can alter those approaches in her curriculum mix when evidence says they are not working (Pearson, 2003). Researcher used systematic literature review to reveal the investigation, followed by action research approach, through observation and interviews data collection. The results showed several constructs like communication, collaboration, and coordination importance for the sustainability of education, including the course COM2014.