Bridging education and industry: university challenges and serious games for professional skill development

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to explore how experiential learning activities enhance soft skills, reduce skill-role misalignments and contribute to students' professional preparedness in operations and supply chain management. This study explores how experiential learning activities, particularly serious games and university challenges, contribute to students' skill development and professional alignment. The objective is to provide empirical insights on how these methodologies can bridge the gap between academic learning and industry demands in operations and supply chain management.Design/methodology/approachThis study examines the impact of experiential learning activities - namely university challenges and serious games - on students' soft skills development and their alignment with professional roles. A structured methodology, combining survey questionnaires and correlation analyses, was employed to evaluate participants' psycho-attitudinal traits, soft skills and role coherence. The data were analyzed using reliability tests (Cronbach's alpha) and Pearson's correlation matrices.FindingsThe findings demonstrate that participants in experiential learning activities exhibit fewer misalignments with professional role profiles compared to non-participants. Significant correlations were found between participation and improvements in soft skills, such as leadership, teamwork and adaptability, alongside greater self-awareness in self-assessment.Research limitations/implicationsThe study's limitations include a relatively small sample size and the focus on a single university course. Expanding the study to include larger and more diverse samples across different academic disciplines would enhance generalizability.Practical implicationsThe study highlights the potential for integrating serious games and university challenges into academic curricula to address skill gaps and better prepare students for industry roles. Companies can leverage these tools for early talent identification, enhancing recruitment strategies and fostering partnerships with academic institutions.Originality/valueThis study offers empirical evidence on the role of experiential learning in bridging the gap between theoretical education and professional demands. By focusing on the development of soft skills and role alignment, the research provides actionable insights for both educational institutions and employers in operations and supply chain management.