Pre-service teachers’ Perspectives on the Effects of Extra-curricular Activities on Improving Skills at University

Abstract

This study was conducted with the participants of seventy-two pre-service teachers who are third-year students at a University in Mekong Delta to determine preservice teachers’ perspectives on the effects of extra-curricular activities on their skills. This study focuses on the activities organized by the Youth Union Association and the Vietnamese Student Association at a university. Survey research was designed for third-year university students. The survey covers the benefits of those extra-curricular activities in improving students’ 21st-century skills using a structured questionnaire with three clusters: Life and Career Skills, Learning and Innovation Skills, and Information, Media and Technology Skills. The study’s results indicate that students engage in extra-curricular activities organized by the university, and their skills in the three clusters demonstrate improvement. Through the findings, students can realize the significance of ECAs and they acknowledge the positive impact of ECAs on enhancing their 21st-century skills. This study implies that the Executive Committee of the Youth Union Association and The Vietnamese Student Association Committee should choose more attractive approaches to organize more appropriate activities to enhance students’ engagement and exploit their potential abilities. Also, more research is needed to understand better the factors influencing student engagement in extra-curricular activities. The limited sample was not representative of the broad students’ community and the questionnaire only collected students’ agreement levels without additional insights/comments.