Project-based approach to teaching students new product development skills

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to analyze learning experience of management students and new product development teams management. The list of skills that are necessary to use flexible development methods has been reviewed. To meet the expectations of future employers, students must master these skills in the learning process. The hypotheses have been formulated that project-based learning to solve the issues of third-party users helps students acquire the necessary skills and better adapt to future professional tasks. At the same time, encouraging students to reflect stimulates awareness of the acquired know ledge and skills. The relevant data accumulated over the 6 years of the new product development management course has been analyzed. More than 200 students from 32 countries completed 62 projects on various topics during their studies. The results of a survey of 58 students who studied this course during 2024 and 2025 have been analyzed. The survey aimed to identify students’ assessment of the skills they acquired or improved during their studies. The peculiarities of the teaching methodology of this training course have been revealed. The analysis of teaching methods, course structure, and digital tools used, as well as the student surveys results, confirms the hypothesis that product development projects implementation for third-party users contributes to forming skills that are in demand by employers. Most of the students confirm that they have gained additional skills in teamwork and new product development through prototype testing.