Enhancing Students' Innovative Thinking through Team-Based Learning via the Implementation of UNITEL Initiatives

In recent years, universities and higher education institutions have increasingly emphasized the development of soft skills, such as problem-solving, teamwork, and collaboration, alongside traditional hard skills. This shift has led to a team-oriented learning environment in higher education, providing students with dynamic and innovative learning experiences. Research has demonstrated that Team-Based Learning (TBL) is a promising approach that enhances student learning. This study examines the influence of the TBL approach on students' innovative thinking skills and academic achievements while implementing a specific initiative within the UNITEL project. The research utilized a quasi-experimental design, involving 66 undergraduate students organized into teams from Shiraz University. The findings indicate that the TBL approach positively influenced the development of students' innovative thinking skills and learning outcomes. TBL demonstrates potential as an active-learner-oriented approach for cultivating students' innovative skills. This study showed a significant difference between team-oriented learning, innovative thinking, and students' learning outcomes after TBL. However, further research is necessary to assess its impact on the development of other soft skills and to determine the optimal duration for TBL implementation in fostering students' innovative thinking. This study adds to the existing body of research on the effectiveness of TBL in enhancing student learning experiences and provides insights into the potential of TBL for developing soft skills in addition to traditional hard skills. Furthermore, the study highlights the need for further research to assess TBL's impact on the development of other soft skills and to determine the optimal duration for its implementation in fostering students' innovative skills.