The initiatives relating to study groups help educators establish a culture around group work that is characterised by shared responsibility and healthy relations amongst the students.

Study groups can support both academic and social integration and, thereby, strengthen study affiliations as well as contribute to good study culture. Often, the groups’ structures are not sufficiently formalised, and the groups can be isolated. That is often a source of dissatisfaction for students when the teamwork is not working, and the students do not know how to handle it. It can lead to high-tension conflicts and exclusion.

By giving the educators, the student counsellors, and the students the same basic knowledge about dynamics, including natural and expected challenges in groups as well as concrete tools for dialogue, a joint understanding and common language relating to group work can be achieved.

An effort concerning study groups can be further linked together by an employed, study group coordinator (for instance a mentor) who acts as a liaison between educators, student counsellors, and students.

Content in the study groups efforts

For educators, study counsellors, etc.:

• Phases and psychological dynamics in study groups
• Expected challenges in study groups and conflict prevention
• Tools to present to students
• How to support good teamwork in teaching
• The educator’s role concerning study groups, opportunities, and boundaries
• Collaboration across the education regarding the organization of the students’ group work

For students:

• Phases and psychological dynamics in study groups
• Expected challenges, including disagreements
• Dealing with these challenges and preventing conflicts
• Tools for communication and collaboration
• How and when to support a group in conflict?