Innovations in immersive technology and artificial intelligence to enhance the golden skillsets of effective communication and collaboration

Journal article


O'Leary, S., Ward, G. and Jackson, T. 2024. Innovations in immersive technology and artificial intelligence to enhance the golden skillsets of effective communication and collaboration. Graduate College Working Papers.
AuthorsO'Leary, S., Ward, G. and Jackson, T.
Abstract

This longitudinal appraisal provides empirical evidence that higher education needs to concentrate even more on developing graduates with strengths in communications and collaborations, alongside the focus on subject capability. Immersive technology and artificial intelligence provide innovative means of catalysing such growth, examples including the emergence of soft-skills development through platforms such as Bodyswaps (2024) and others.

Using primary baseline data from ten years ago, a Journal of Education and Work paper (O’Leary, 2017) confirmed a series of disciplinary variations in employability-related support across higher education institutions. A complementary Studies in Higher Education publication (O’Leary, 2021) highlighted that gendered inconsistencies in such provision were of an indirect nature, as they reflected variable provision across disciplinary subject areas while persistent gendered choices of degree subject matter exist. The third study (O’Leary et.al., 2024) assesses progress and establishes future priorities for course developments.

The first study outlined that variations exist in how students and graduates prefer to see employabilityrelated support delivered in their courses. Nine in ten want it included, but differences exist as to whether it is best provided as an optional feature (the desire within Humanities and Sciences), or it is fully integrated into the course (the preference in Engineering and Social Sciences). However, the second study highlighted that actual student and graduate experiences of employability-related support vary and, as a result, more female students and graduates appear to miss out because of the variations across disciplinary areas and the fact that females are predominant in those subject fields where the visibility of employability-related support is relatively lower.

To complement the earlier studies and establish a longitudinal perspective over the last decade, the third study (O’Leary et.al., 2024) was recently completed by over one hundred students and graduates.

A preliminary assessment of the data has been made for this proposal, and the full analysis continues to progress. The initial appraisal indicates that the gaps previously exposed are closing and the focus for future course developments should be on developing graduates with strengths in communication and collaboration, as well as on capability. Opportunities to enhance such golden skills exist using immersive technologies

KeywordsGraduate skills; Virtual reality; Artificial intelligence (AI); Communication; Collaboration
Year2024
JournalGraduate College Working Papers
PublisherCanterbury Christ Church University
ISSN2753-4006
Publication dates
Online25 Sep 2024
Publication process dates
Deposited25 Sep 2024
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Open
Output statusPublished
Permalink -

https://repository.canterbury.ac.uk/item/9927y/innovations-in-immersive-technology-and-artificial-intelligence-to-enhance-the-golden-skillsets-of-effective-communication-and-collaboration

Download files


Publisher's version
GCWP2405 SOL GW TJ.pdf
License: CC BY 4.0
File access level: Open

  • 11
    total views
  • 2
    total downloads
  • 10
    views this month
  • 1
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

TCT innovation taxonomy and open foresight innovation paradigm
Ward, G. and Jaddoa, A. 2024. TCT innovation taxonomy and open foresight innovation paradigm. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.30473.04960
The role of use cases when adopting augmented reality into higher education pedagogy
Ward, G., Turner, S., Pitt, C., Qi, M., Richmond-Fuller, A. and Jackson, T. 2024. The role of use cases when adopting augmented reality into higher education pedagogy.
Using generative artificial intelligence to catalyse further interdisciplinarity across higher education
Clarke, S., Billingsley, B. and O'Leary, S. 2024. Using generative artificial intelligence to catalyse further interdisciplinarity across higher education. Graduate College Working Papers.
Leadership and succession in Trinidadian family businesses
Boodoo, K., O'Leary, S. and Martin, L. 2024. Leadership and succession in Trinidadian family businesses. Graduate College Working Papers.
How inclusive is VR to support EDI engineering curriculum learning?
Harrison, J., Forester, F., Ward, G., Tubby, M., Lithgow, P. and Nortcliffe, A. 2023. How inclusive is VR to support EDI engineering curriculum learning?
Management actions to address the climate emergency: Motivations and barriers for SMEs and other societal micro/meso-level groups
O'Leary, S., Lieberman, S., Gulyas, A., Ogilvie, M., Bates, D., Heath, T., Pelz, C., Williams, S. and Shalet, D. 2023. Management actions to address the climate emergency: Motivations and barriers for SMEs and other societal micro/meso-level groups. The International Journal of Management Education. 21 (3). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijme.2023.100831
Retailers, don’t ignore me on social media! The importance of consumer-brand interactions in raising purchase intention - Privacy the Achilles heel
Gutierrez, A., Punjaisri, K., Desai, B., Alwi, S., O'Leary, S., Chaiyasoonthorn, W. and Chaveesuk, S. 2023. Retailers, don’t ignore me on social media! The importance of consumer-brand interactions in raising purchase intention - Privacy the Achilles heel. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services. 72 (103272). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2023.103272
The climate emergency across business, community and campaign groups: Motivations and barriers to driving change for the common good
O'Leary, S., Lieberman, S., Gulyas, A., Ogilvie, M., Bates, D., Heath, T., Pelz, C., Williams, S. and Shalet, D. 2022. The climate emergency across business, community and campaign groups: Motivations and barriers to driving change for the common good. Graduate College Working Papers.
Digital entrepreneurship: opportunities, but not a panacea - implications for premium products and entrepreneurship education
O'Leary, S. 2022. Digital entrepreneurship: opportunities, but not a panacea - implications for premium products and entrepreneurship education. Graduate College Working Papers.
The climate emergency across business, community and campaign groups: motivations and barriers to driving change for the common good
O'Leary, S., Gulyas, A., Lieberman, S., Ogilvie, M., Bates, D., Heath, T. and Shalet, D. 2022. The climate emergency across business, community and campaign groups: motivations and barriers to driving change for the common good. Graduate College Working Papers.
The role of research reputation in choosing a UK business school and the contrasting perspectives of students and research leaders
Sirkeci, I. and O'Leary, S. 2022. The role of research reputation in choosing a UK business school and the contrasting perspectives of students and research leaders. The International Journal of Management Education. 20 (1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijme.2021.100566
Games outside of games
Ward, G. 2022. Games outside of games.
The future of virtual reality
Ward, G. 2022. The future of virtual reality.
#LTHEchat 243: Self exclusion – through digital inequalities
Turner, S., Ward, G. and Elliott, C. 2022. #LTHEchat 243: Self exclusion – through digital inequalities. LTHEchat.
Why CES 2022 is more than about colour changing cars and wi-fi charging remotes.
Ward, G. and Pitt, C. 2022. Why CES 2022 is more than about colour changing cars and wi-fi charging remotes. Canterbury Christ Church University.
Gender and management implications from clearer signposting of employability attributes developed across graduate disciplines
O'Leary, S. 2021. Gender and management implications from clearer signposting of employability attributes developed across graduate disciplines. Studies in Higher Education. 46 (3), pp. 437-456. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2019.1640669
40 years on and the economics of solar power now make sense
O'Leary, S. 2020. 40 years on and the economics of solar power now make sense. Energy Institute
Bringing unseen employability support into view
O'Leary, S. 2020. Bringing unseen employability support into view. JISC.
Profiling a niche market and establishing an entrepreneurial strategy for a niche brand; the costume jewellery sector in Switzerland
O'Leary, S. and Hirt, S. 2020. Profiling a niche market and establishing an entrepreneurial strategy for a niche brand; the costume jewellery sector in Switzerland. London Regent's University.
Walking that family and business tightrope; the relationship between family business adviser and the family business
Swaffin-Smith, C. and O'Leary, S. 2020. Walking that family and business tightrope; the relationship between family business adviser and the family business. London Regent's University.
Walking the tightrope between family and business; longitudinal reflections of a Family Business Advisor
Swaffin-Smith, C. and O'Leary, S. 2020. Walking the tightrope between family and business; longitudinal reflections of a Family Business Advisor. London Regent's University.
An exploratory study on social entrepreneurship in Egypt
Fakoussa, R., O'Leary, S. and Salem, S. 2020. An exploratory study on social entrepreneurship in Egypt. Journal of Islamic Accounting and Business Research. 11 (3), pp. 694-707. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIABR-02-2017-0023
Using digital technologies to provide a sense of normality
Ward, G. 2020. Using digital technologies to provide a sense of normality.
Exploring the growth challenges of social enterprises: Identifying staffing, earnings-generation and communications as critical success factors
O'Leary, S., Fakoussa, R. and Lawal-Solarin, A. 2019. Exploring the growth challenges of social enterprises: Identifying staffing, earnings-generation and communications as critical success factors. London Regent's University.
Walking the tightrope between family and business; the owner-manager transition towards a sibling partnership
Swaffin-Smith, C. and O'Leary, S. 2019. Walking the tightrope between family and business; the owner-manager transition towards a sibling partnership. London Regent's University .
Migrant entrepreneurs’ views on the potential impacts of Brexit on their UK businesses
O'Leary, S. 2019. Migrant entrepreneurs’ views on the potential impacts of Brexit on their UK businesses. London Regent's University.
Using privacy calculus theory to explore entrepreneurial directions in mobile location-based advertising: Identifying intrusiveness as the critical risk factor
Gutierrez, A., O'Leary, S., Rana, N. P., Dwivedi, Y. K. and Calle, T. 2019. Using privacy calculus theory to explore entrepreneurial directions in mobile location-based advertising: Identifying intrusiveness as the critical risk factor. Computers in Human Behavior. 95, pp. 295-306. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2018.09.015
Regent's lecturer appointed chair of entrepreneurship group
O'Leary, S. 2018. Regent's lecturer appointed chair of entrepreneurship group. Regent's University London
Entrepreneurship and Family Business Research Centre
O'Leary, S. 2018. Entrepreneurship and Family Business Research Centre. London
Mapping the geographies of luxury cognitive “purity”
Carlotto, F. and O'Leary, S. 2018. Mapping the geographies of luxury cognitive “purity”. London Regent's University.
Influencing decision-makers as the next step for entrepreneurship educators: lessons from entrepreneurship education in challenging economies
O'Leary, S., Fakoussa, R., Boccacci, A. and Salem, S. 2018. Influencing decision-makers as the next step for entrepreneurship educators: lessons from entrepreneurship education in challenging economies. Regent's University London Regent's Working Papers.
Internships and graduate employability
O'Leary, S. 2018. Internships and graduate employability. in: International Internships: Mission, Methods & Models Boston, MA. Academic Internships Council. pp. 115-130
Designing the geography of luxury: Online perceptions and entrepreneurial options
Carlotto, F. and O'Leary, S. 2018. Designing the geography of luxury: Online perceptions and entrepreneurial options. Journal of Design, Business & Society. 4 (2), pp. 189-227. https://doi.org/10.1386/dbs.4.2.189_1
Planning a new venture
O'Leary, S. 2017. Planning a new venture. in: Flexible Learning Practice Guide Practitioner Exemplars York, UK Higher Education Academy. pp. 21-22
Entrepreneurial transitions in Family Business: Organic model, governance and succession
O'Leary, S., Swaffin-Smith, C. and Fakoussa, R. 2017. Entrepreneurial transitions in Family Business: Organic model, governance and succession. London Transnational Press London.
An economic impetus for enhancing employability support across higher education in Russia
O'Leary, S. 2017. An economic impetus for enhancing employability support across higher education in Russia. Terra Economicus. 15 (1), pp. 157-164.
Enhancing graduate attributes and employability through initiatives with external partners
O'Leary, S. 2017. Enhancing graduate attributes and employability through initiatives with external partners. Journal of Practice and Evidence of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. 12 (3), pp. 505-518.
Developing entrepreneurial and employability attributes through marketing projects with SMEs
O'Leary, S. 2017. Developing entrepreneurial and employability attributes through marketing projects with SMEs. Journal of Research in Marketing and Entrepreneurship. 19 (1), pp. 77-90. https://doi.org/10.1108/JRME-07-2016-0024
Graduates’ experiences of, and attitudes towards, the inclusion of employability-related support in undergraduate degree programmes; trends and variations by subject discipline and gender
O'Leary, S. 2017. Graduates’ experiences of, and attitudes towards, the inclusion of employability-related support in undergraduate degree programmes; trends and variations by subject discipline and gender. Journal of Education and Work. 30 (1), pp. 84-105. https://doi.org/0.1080/13639080.2015.1122181
Embedding employability into the curriculum: Strategic Enhancement Programme
O'Leary, S. 2016. Embedding employability into the curriculum: Strategic Enhancement Programme.
Disciplinary and gender variations in employability-related support across higher education
O'Leary, S. 2016. Disciplinary and gender variations in employability-related support across higher education. London Regent's University.
Embedding employability: Regent’s University London
O'Leary, S. 2016. Embedding employability: Regent’s University London. York, UK. Higher Education Academy.
Developing global team working abilities and enhancing employability through enterprise initiatives
O'Leary, S. 2016. Developing global team working abilities and enhancing employability through enterprise initiatives. in: Teaching with Team Projects in Higher Education Santa Rose, CA. Informing Science Press. pp. 165-182
The opportunities and challenges for employability-related support in STEM degrees
O'Leary, S. 2016. The opportunities and challenges for employability-related support in STEM degrees. New Directions in the Teaching of Natural Sciences. 11 (1).
Organic model to reflect the transitional nature of family firms
O'Leary, S. and Swaffin-Smith, C. 2016. Organic model to reflect the transitional nature of family firms. The Marketing Review. 16 (3), pp. 285-297.
Organic model to reflect the transitional nature of family firms
O'Leary, S. 2015. Organic model to reflect the transitional nature of family firms. London Regent's University.
Economic governance and enterprise-related activities in higher education
O'Leary, S. 2015. Economic governance and enterprise-related activities in higher education. Economics and Sociology. 8 (2), pp. 143-153. https://doi.org/10.14254/2071-789X.2015/8-2/11
Integrating employability into degree programmes using consultancy projects as a form of enterprise
O'Leary, S. 2015. Integrating employability into degree programmes using consultancy projects as a form of enterprise. Industry and Higher Education. 29 (6), pp. 459-468. https://doi.org/10.5367/ihe.2015.0280
Consultancy projects as an alternative to dissertations.
O'Leary, S. 2014. Consultancy projects as an alternative to dissertations. in: Enhancing Employability Through Enterprise Education: Examples of Good Practice in Higher Education York, UK. Higher Education Academy. pp. 33
Transnational marketing and transnational consumers
O'Leary, S. 2013. Transnational marketing and transnational consumers. Springer: Heidelberg' New York, Dordrecht, London.
An appraisal of family enterprise advisors as enhancers of both group performance and individual family member employability profiles
O'Leary, S. and Swaffin-Smith, C. 2013. An appraisal of family enterprise advisors as enhancers of both group performance and individual family member employability profiles. London Regent's University.
Problem-solving skills and employability traits amongst Generation Y and Millenials in developed economies
O'Leary, S. and Denton, K. 2013. Problem-solving skills and employability traits amongst Generation Y and Millenials in developed economies. London Regent's University.
Investigating the impact of entrepreneurship online teaching on science and technology degrees on students attitudes in developing economies: The case of Egypt
El-Gohary, H., O'Leary, S. and Radway, P. 2013. Investigating the impact of entrepreneurship online teaching on science and technology degrees on students attitudes in developing economies: The case of Egypt. in: Small and Medium Enterprises: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications USA IGI Global. pp. 1725-1737
Case Study 2: MA in Luxury Brand Management
O'Leary, S. 2013. Case Study 2: MA in Luxury Brand Management. QAA: Scottish Quality Enhancement Framework.
Collaborations in higher education with employers and their influence on graduate employability; an institutional project
O'Leary, S. 2013. Collaborations in higher education with employers and their influence on graduate employability; an institutional project. Enhancing Learning in the Social Sciences. 5 (1), pp. 37-50. https://doi.org/10.11120/elss.2013.05010037
Investigating the impact of entrepreneurship online teaching on science and technology degrees on students attitudes in developing economies: The case of Egypt
El-Gohary, H., O'Leary, S. and Radway, H. 2012. Investigating the impact of entrepreneurship online teaching on science and technology degrees on students attitudes in developing economies: The case of Egypt. International Journal of Online Marketing. 2 (1), pp. 25-27. https://doi.org/10.4018/ijom.2012010103
Case study on client-focused business projects
O'Leary, S. 2012. Case study on client-focused business projects. in: A Compendium of Examples of Innovative Assessment at Masters Level Leeds Metropolitan University. pp. 50
Impact of entrepreneurship teaching in higher education on the employability of scientists and engineers
O'Leary, S. 2012. Impact of entrepreneurship teaching in higher education on the employability of scientists and engineers. Industry and Higher Education. 26 (6), pp. 431-442. https://doi.org/10.5367/ihe.2012.0128
An insider’s guide to becoming a business academic: questions, answers and checklists for new business academics
O'Leary, S. 2011. An insider’s guide to becoming a business academic: questions, answers and checklists for new business academics. University of Liverpool and Open Educational Resources