Students as Academic Partners Project: Audit of Team Work Practice within Worcester Business School

The overarching aim of the Student Academic Partners (SAP) Project Scheme is to integrate students into University communities which actively support student learning. A planned audit of current team working practices was considered to be a suitable vehicle for such a partnership.

The notion of team working is particularly highly prized by employers. University tutors increasingly utilise strategies to enhance team working experience and practice. Such skills are important in a curriculum which places an emphasis on enhancing employability and engagement skills. Whilst not all students see the benefit, prospective employers are keen to recruit those with a high level of skill. Employability skills in general are now routinely embedding in modules.

An audit of undergraduate modules found that approximately one third of modules include some element of team working theory, practice and/or assessment. A position early in the academic year was found to be prevalent, suggesting an impact on future practice. Not all modules where team working is a part of the assessment pattern were found to include theory and practice, but the mandatory nature of such modules suggests that previous learning has taken place before the commencement of the module under scrutiny. Some subjects were found utilise individual working practices throughout.