• A group sitting together

Working in groups

Tools and guidance for successful group collaboration

Different types of groupwork at ITU
Groupwork is a central part of many courses at ITU. Different types of teamwork serve different purposes. In some courses you might collaborate in short exercises, join study groups to discuss course material and give feedback, or work on bigger projects throughout the semester. Some group activities focus on discussion and how best to understand complex concepts. At other times the aim is to produce shared outcomes (e.g. reports, prototypes or technical solutions).

Groups are formed differently
During your studies groups will be formed in different ways. In some courses, groups are assigned by the teacher – randomly or with the intention of creating a mix of different skills or perspectives. At other times you will be invited to form groups yourself based on project ideas or work preference or other considerations.

Teamwork skills for your future career
Groupwork at university will help deepen your understanding and expose you to new perspectives. As you engage in groupwork you practice important collaboration skills: You will learn to communicate more clearly, provide constructive feedback as well as gain practical experience planning tasks, facilitating meetings, managing deadlines, and navigating disagreements. This experience fits directly in your CV as it is skills of high value among future employers.

Psychological safety strengthens effective groupwork
Psychological safety means feeling able to ask questions, share ideas, or admit confusion without worrying about negative reactions. In a study setting, this helps groups clarify misunderstandings early, experiment with ideas, and build stronger shared solutions. Collaboration becomes productive and supports deeper learning.


Six simple suggestions to support inclusive groupwork


1. Talk about how each of you work the best:
Align expectations early – consider doing a collaboration agreement
(see tools below)

2. Make it easy for everyone to participate:
Create structures that can help everyone contribute – both for the big picture and for the small tasks (see tools below)

3. Share tasks flexibly:
Remember there are many ways of contributing. Keep track of tasks, delegation of to-dos, and project progress (see tools below)


4. Agree on how you communicate and provide feedback:
People process info differently – some prefer talking while others understand visuals or text better (see tools below)

5. Plan realistically: Remember breaks/buffer time:
Energy levels vary. To avoid overload, build in pauses and help each other set doable deadline

6. Do regular check-ins and adjust as you go:
Regular check-in rounds on what worked well and what didn’t enable adjustment. Wrap up to agree on one small action to improve for your next meeting (see tools below)

Tools to help improve your teamwork

Clapping hands

Make a collaboration agreement

Read the template individually in silence .
Discuss and fill out the template together (purpose, organisation and communication).

The goal is dialogue and a shared starting point.
Keep the completed agreement in your shared group folder and agree on when to revisit it!

Download the template here

Group being held by a hand

Meeting structure quick guide:

Keep a clear structure for all your meetings:
Before (set a clear goal and agenda)
During (align focus, roles, and timing)
After (summarize decisions and who will do next steps)

Make tasks visible, assign responsibility, set deadlines, and review regularly.

Consider different formats depending on the task (short/long meetings, online/hybrid etc.)

Group in relation talking

Weekly recurring check-in:

The first step is to make a collaboration agreement.

It is, furthermore a good idea to do regular (weekly or monthly) status check-ins:

- What worked well?
- What didn’t work so well?
- What is one small thing we can improve – or change to try out?

You are welcome to book a group session with a Study and Career advisor/guidance counsellor for a facilitated check-in/status on teamwork.

Hands protecting a heart

Focus on how you do feedback

Be specific when asking for feedback: what should be commented on and how.

Be specific when giving feedback: justify your comments and offer suggestions.

Share your material in due time:
- have a document ready for comments or ask for time in a team meeting.

Think about the recipient - respect that many hours have been spent.

When collaboration gets difficult

Academic debate or personal conflict?
Disagreements and moments of tension are a natural part of working in a study group. In fact, academic debate is a core part of university learning. Through discussion, you deepen your understanding of different theories, methods, and perspectives.
It’s important to distinguish between constructive academic debate and personal conflict—because they call for very different ways of responding.

If you experience tension, address it early!
It is important to act on signs of tension or personal conflict. Tricky situations arise around many topics. Sometimes groupwork is challenged due to uneven workload – some feel invisible, while others feel they carry the project.

At other times clashing ambitions can occur, where some aim for top grades, while others are satisfied with just passing. Miscommunication can also challenge collaboration – small issues or attempted jokes escalate quickly across platforms.

Take small matters seriously – you get better at teamwork only if you practice!

Where to turn for help and guidance
As a first step, try using the tools to help improve your teamwork at this site (link above). If you feel involved in a situation too difficult to handle on your own, reach out for support.

Contact your course manager or supervisor for guidance on possible ways forward - they can often help point you in a constructive direction.

If you’re unsure how to approach the course manager, consider asking your teaching assistants for advice.

You can also book a group session in the Study and Career Guidance (see below).

Group sessions in the Study and Career Guidance

The study and career guidance team

How to make a booking for your group

If your study or project group is experiencing challenges or early signs of conflict, you can request a dedicated group session with a study and career guidance counselor.

To book, please email studentadvisors@itu.dk with a short description of your situation and your group size.

We will then get back to you to propose possible times for setting up a joint meeting.

A group session

What to expect in a group session

When you book a session for the group, you can expect a student guidance counselor to help guide a structured conversation about your collaboration.

Through facilitated dialogue and guidance; together, you will work towards a clearer understanding of the situation. We support your dialogue and help keep it constructive and focused.

Often, we can help identify concrete actions to improve how you collaborate as a group.