GROUP WORK IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION: INSIGHTS AND ISSUES

We are usually focused on the product produced when evaluating students' work. As evaluators, we look at the academic language, the description and choice of methods, the depth of the literature review, and the work and originality the engineering students have put into the project. What if we take a more human-centred approach to the education we offer and explore the challenges students encounter in developing soft skills throughout their studies? This study examines second-year and third-year students, and graduates from the University of Agder. The purpose of this study is to investigate how students choose their team members, their experiences on group work and how the universities should include teamwork in the curriculum. This study found that the majority of the students have experienced free riders, different levels of ambitions and skills, and disagreements between group members. Students prefer group members based on peers they have previously worked well with, friends, and classmates they perceive as competent. A suggestion for a fair assessment of students could be group work, but also with individual evaluation. To engage all group members from the start, a sprint at the beginning of the project could help include everyone.