Students’ Needs for Multidisciplinary Student Teamwork Teaching and Learning in Interdisciplinary Higher Education: Relational Competences and Educational Design Needs

Teamwork competence is an essential competence in today’s world, in which multidisciplinary teams address the most pressing complex socio-environmental issues of our time. Higher education institutes must offer explicit teaching in teamwork competence in multidisciplinary student teams (MSTs). The student perspective on learning MST teamwork competence is under-researched. The aim of this study is to provide insights into students’ learning needs and educational design needs, using data from focus groups. Students identify six clear MST teamwork competences that they want to learn: (a) self-knowledge and self-confidence, (b) understanding and bridging differences between people, (c) creating a positive attitude, motivation, and shared responsibility, (d) taking on different roles with associated competences, (e) discussing main teamwork aspects at the start, and (f) addressing and solving problems within the team. Students state that explicit teamwork teaching is needed and that they need time to learn, practice, and reflect on MST teamwork competences, and to build interpersonal relationships within the team.