Extended Abstract: Collaboration, Communication, Curiosity and Critical Thinking: the 4 Cs of Developing Teamwork in Chinese STEM Students

Abstract

The need for soft skills to succeed in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) has been clearly established. Key soft skills for the 21st century include the 4Cs: collaboration, communication, curiosity and critical thinking. Despite this, studies have shown a gap in the skills of students entering the workplace, both by employers and the students themselves. This is a global issue, and specifically in China, as Chinese students also require the necessary training in communication and teamwork skills but have little exposure in their traditional education. However, few studies create and research projects to facilitate certain specific 4C skills such as curiosity and collaboration. This paper presents a case study of a semester long team project that aimed at developing these skills among Chinese STEM students. While initially reluctant, students expanded these 4C soft skills and experienced the potential benefits of teamwork when compared with their preferred mode of individual study.