The challenges of group work for international students

Group work is common in Australian universities. It helps you build essential skills beyond just academic knowledge. Group assignments encourage collaborative learning, which fosters teamwork, communication and problem-solving abilities.

These skills will help you far beyond the classroom as they are highly sought after by employers.

Cross-cultural group work in education is designed to simulate real-world professional settings, where people from different backgrounds must work together to achieve shared goals. Participating in this group work helps prepare you to enter the workplace by developing soft skills like negotiation, time management and leadership.

Group projects for international students can also offer a chance to meet new people and practice English.

While the benefits of group work for international students are clear, we understand that it can take a bit of time to adjust to the experience while studying in Australia.

The challenges of group work

Group work can be challenging for anyone, particularly if you’re still adapting to a new academic environment.

One of the most common challenges in group work is the language barrier. This can make it harder to express ideas clearly, follow discussions or participate fully in planning. Cultural differences can also affect group dynamics. In some cultures, for example, students may be more reserved or avoid speaking up out of respect for others, which might be mistaken by other cultures for a lack of interest or effort.

It’s so important for both Australian and international students to keep this in mind when you’re working with people from a wide range of backgrounds. International students sometimes face challenges in understanding the expectations around academic integrity, roles within group tasks, or how to deal with intercultural conflict constructively. Of course, regardless of where they’re from, group members will have different working styles, timelines or levels of motivation, which can cause frustration.

Tips to make group work and projects easier

There are several ways you can improve your group work skills and feel more confident when working on assignments with other students.

• Be proactive with communication: Set clear goals and responsibilities early. Don’t hesitate to ask questions or confirm what others mean. Use tools like Google Docs, Microsoft Teams or WhatsApp to stay organised.
• Learn about cultural differences: Understanding Australian culture and common communication styles can make collaboration smoother. Respectfully raise concerns if something is unclear.
• Use your strengths: Everyone brings something unique. Whether it’s research, editing or presenting, you can always offer your skills to the group.
• Use support services: Attend workshops and utilise language support and academic resources available to you. These can help you with adjusting to group work and learning best practices for collaboration.
• Reflect on the experience: Think about what went well and what could be improved for next time. This reflection will help you grow and handle future group projects with more ease.

For more tips on making the most of your experience as an international student and adjusting to studying in Australia, check out the Student Hub.