The link between learning spaces and employability outcomes

Abstract

Universities are investing considerable funds in designing and building innovative learning spaces without knowing the positive impact on student learning and their achievement of employability skills for the 21^st century. There is a possibility of designing these new generation learning spaces to enable active and deep learning approaches to be employed to improve student learning outcomes and their achievement of employability skills.  This paper proposes that an evaluative framework for innovative learning spaces and tools to measure the impact of these learning spaces on students’ achievement of employability skills is a worthy endeavour.  Best practice innovative active learning strategies can then be identified and incorporated into a professional learning module for academics teaching in higher education. The outcomes can guide universities in developing learning spaces that maximise student learning consistent with 21^st century employability skills.