Howell, John; (2024) From group work to teamwork: The experiences of Romanian students undertaking assessed group work on UK higher education programmes. Doctoral thesis (Ed.D), UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

Learners educated in different countries can typically find themselves adapting to unfamiliar ways of learning on UK degree programmes which can lead to a widely contrasting set of learning experiences for them. This study seeks to reveal the experiences of Romanian students in such a context when undertaking assessed group work. The methodology chosen to conduct the study employs a mainly qualitative approach where data has been collected via qualitative face-to-face interviews and a quantitative survey with Romanian students studying on a BSc Business Management programme at a UK HEI. The findings of the study suggest that these students have little prior experience of assessed group work and go through a process of adaptation. This process involves them adapting to working in groups with the challenges of social interaction being of more significance in the early stages and learning becoming of greater significance than social contact later on, as their teamworking ability develops. As students’ progress through the stages of adaptation they build strong personal relationships with team members and there is significant experimentation. They face challenges such as relying on others, managing the collaborative creation of work, and overcoming communication barriers. Within the adaptation process there are also major re-grouping incidences where the autonomy to choose teammates is withdrawn at certain points in the programme, forcing further adaptation. As these students’ subsequently return to previously established groups, a greater teamworking ability emerges. Although these students typically remain uncomfortable with how group work is assessed, there is overall support for the continued use of assessed group work. The study is significant for UK HEI’s as it reveals how educators can support international students as they work through the process of adaptation to these unfamiliar group work experiences and become integral parts of well-established effective student teams.

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