Motivation: The project is within the field of PBL and group formation/group work. The group formation phase and the first phase of the group work (i.e. the problem identification process) is being conceived as difficult for non-Danish students to participate in.This creates problems for the projects dynamics with e.g. frequent break up of groups and isolation of non-Danish students.

Theory: The work is inspired by Hofstede's five cultural dimensions and working hypothesises on how culture impacts especially participation in the group formation process and in the problem identification phase. Examples on a hypothesis: Students from hierarchical countries do not participate in problem solving phases as they are trained to work with defined problems mainly.

Aim: Inspired by Critical Realism and Critical Evaluations this project aims at understanding;

If there is a particular problem related to non-Danish students participation in the group formation process and in the problem identification,
If the problem is not a myth, then to understand the magnitude and the causes behind the problems
to identify solutions to the possible problems and formulate guidelines
to  commun icate, disseminate  and  implement  the  solutions  in the  teaching  practices  and organisation.

Methods: The project combines qualitative and quantitative methods. To achieve an understanding of if the problem exists and the scope/magnitude of the problem the project undertakes a survey among the Danish and international students currently enrolled in the bachelor in Manufacturing and Operations Engineering (MOE),the master in Engineering Operations and Management Engineering (OME) and the two specializations of the Master of Science and Technology in Operations and Innovation management (OIM­ GM and OIM-MM). The survey will be distributed to all the students (i.e.census study). To ensure a high response rate the survey is reduced to a short comprehensive survey. The survey results will give the answers to the magnitude of the problem, the extent to which the problem is more pronounced at bachelors or masters level or if it is e.g. educational,gender or country specific. The findings are integrated with Hofstede's available quantitat ive measures.

To analyse the causal mechanisms there is a need for conducting qualitative and theory informed semi­ structured interviews. In total 36 students will be interviewed distributed evenly on the education and selected on basis on stratified selection (Danish students, international students from medium hierarchical countries and students from hierarchical countries) with equal gender representation. Nine students from each programme will be interviewed: Three Danish students, three students from countries with a mid­ level of hierarchy and three students from a high-level of hierarchy. The interview guide will have questions related to the findings from the survey, to the students' experience, the nature of the experience, and possible solutions. The data will be analysed through a combination of deduction and grounded methods and with assistance of a diversity consultant.

Analytical outcome: The combined interviews willgive a quantitative identification of the magnitude of the problems and the where it is most pronounced, the main causes and how it may be solved.

PROJEKTANSVARLIG OG MERE INFORMATION

Associate Professor Jan Vang, Jan@business.aau.dk

Projektdeltagere

Anders P. Nielsen, Annalisa Brambini, Giamono Liotta, Peder Søberg, Liv Gish, Volker Krüger og Anne Sand