Fostering Key Professional Skills and Social Activism Through Experiential Learning Projects in Communication and Advertising Education

Abstract

This article examines the impact of experiential learning projects in communication education on the development of critical professional skills and social activism of students. We argue that an effective integration of ethically relevant issues that could be addressed from the communication practice in classroom instruction helps students to develop key professional competences while applying their talent and communication skills toward relevant social debates. From the Spiral of Silence and Cultural Capital theories perspectives, the research explores key dynamics, learnings, and the results of an innovative academic project focused on challenging extreme content and unethical behavior in social digital networks.