The Impact of Fieldwork Courses on the Students’ Learning Experience and Academic Performance

Abstract

Fieldwork courses offer hands-on learning experiences beyond traditional classrooms, aiming to merge theory with practice. This research seeks to identify the benefits of fieldwork courses and the impact of these benefits on the learning experiences and academic performance of undergraduate students enrolled in the Plantation Management Programme at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM). To collect data, quantitative research utilising a survey methodology was employed. A series of questionnaires were distributed randomly using Google Forms, with responses received from 111 students. Statistical analyses, including descriptive, correlation, and regression analyses, were conducted using Statistical Package for Social Science version 28 to interpret the gathered data. Findings reveal that respondents strongly agree on the benefits of fieldwork, particularly in experiential learning (µ=4.13) and personal growth (µ=3.75). Correlation analysis indicates a significant relationship between experiential learning and personal growth (r (109) = .432, p = .001), with a 14.3% impact as per regression analysis. ANOVA confirms the significant effect of experiential learning on personal growth (p < 0.001). Thus, the study confirms the hypothesis, demonstrating that fieldwork courses positively impact students' personal growth and confidence by exposing them to experiential learning.