This classroom has Fancy Furniture, Decadent Décor, and Foodie Finds

A dream classroom would have all of the above plus access to real-time human centred research, rich micro-economic case study material, professional industry experts, and top of the line communications resources. Turns out you can get that classroom at the mall, specifically at Les Promenades Gatineau a short bus ride from the Ottawa campus of Algonquin College.

Professor Zainub Ibrahim embodies Algonquin College’s Academic Plan priorities, specifically: creating programming that reflects elements of an experiential polytechnic education. Zainub collaborated with Raymundo Patino, General Manager, and Tsvetan Stanchulov, Assistant Property Manager (a BHTM grad!) of the mall to develop in-class research activities and projects using current issues, challenges and opportunities faced by the organization.

Clients attend an initial meeting with the students either virtually using online conference software, or in person if possible to discuss their key and priority issues. Groups select one of the issues to explore over the course of the term, using knowledge, skills, and teambuilding techniques learned throughout their program. Zainub then organized a class field trip to the mall to gather data with as many students as were available. On site, students actively engaged by recognizing key points discussed in the initial meeting with their ‘clients’, asking relevant questions specific to their research topics, and making observations about the mall’s operations in relation to their research problems.

The course related to the visit is QUA6127: Applied Research Methods. This is a 4th-year course that builds on the concepts taught in QUA0005: Introduction to Research Methods. The entire course is dedicated to conducting a real-time research project for an industry client.

Course Description:
Applied research studies are used to analyze real-world problems and support decision-making. In this course, students work in teams to develop and execute a comprehensive research study for an industry client. They design research proposals, collect primary data, and analyze secondary data using industry-standard software. Through collaboration with industry partners, students experience how research can be applied to solve business challenges and inform decision-making processes.

2. What professional skills did your learners demonstrate during the site visit, and how were they prepared in class?

In Winter 2024, I met with the Assistant Property Manager and the General Manager of Les Promenades Gatineau to define key research priorities. I then communicated these priorities to the students in QUA0005, the prerequisite course for QUA6127, ensuring they were well-prepared for the Fall 2024 semester.

Preparation Before the Visit:

We had a class visit from Dr. Elizabeth Pena, the in-class projects coordinator from the Office of Applied Research, who explained the concept of applied research and its significance.

We held a Zoom meeting with the General Manager of Les Promenades, who provided insights into the research priorities, challenges, and opportunities faced by the mall. Each team chose a topic of interest and began conducting background research.

Students completed TCP 2: CORE-2022 Course on Research Ethics.

All students signed a non-disclosure agreement to ensure confidentiality.

During the Visit:

Students actively engaged by recognizing key points discussed in the meeting, asking relevant questions specific to their research topics, and making observations about the mall’s operations in relation to their research problems.

After the Visit:

Student groups expressed their gratitude by emailing the client, including each team member’s biography and photo.

Each student submitted an assignment discussing the client’s primary issue, performing secondary research, and formulating potential hypotheses to address the problem.

3. What changes to the curriculum have you made or will you make as a result of the visit?

This semester, we are fortunate to work with a highly engaged client who understands the course structure and expectations (the Assistant Property Manager is an alumnus of our program). This collaboration highlights the importance of effective planning and managing expectations with clients for successful experiential learning. In the future, I will continue to emphasize early client engagement, clear communication of expectations, and ensuring that students are fully prepared for real-world applications of their research.