Using Kiva.org to develop critical student employability skills

Abstract

This article explains the use of Kiva.org in a business simulation course to help students develop higher order thinking skills. Kiva, a nonprofit organization, facilitates business loans for entrepreneurs in developing countries. To attract lenders, the website features the personal stories of loan seekers. These stories often create a clash between making sound business decisions and emotional reasoning. Students reviewed projects featured on the Kiva website and developed the rationale for projects they considered fundable. This learning experience allowed students to apply business concepts while testing their own critical reasoning and decision making skills as they explored alternative viewpoints and potential consequences. Students also gained a better understanding of emerging markets and base of pyramid conditions.