Collaboration is one of the biggest factors to contribute to organisational success - 73% of global business leaders believe their organisation would be more successful if their employees worked in more flexible and collaborative ways. Meanwhile, research shows that companies promoting collaborative working are five times more likely to be high performing. As such, it's a highly sought-after soft skill in the professional world.
Collaborative work is a highly transferrable capability that you'll refine over the course of your postgraduate study. At the University of Bath, you'll have the opportunity to collaborate with a global community in new ways. Since one in three of our students is studying internationally, with students from 132 different countries, you'll be able to gain in-depth insights and explore how ideas and concepts translate across the world.
Creating a sense of community
In the modern workplace, employees are becoming more independent in their approach to work, as they embrace trends such as remote working. Remote working or working from home is not equivalent to working in isolation. Alongside individual video calls on Facebook, WhatsApp, Snapchat and Instagram, there are a variety of apps designed for group discussions, such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Houseparty. These are a great way to stay academically and socially connected with other students on your course.
Community is about sharing each other’s skills, knowledge and experience in order to work towards a common goal. A sense of community is one of the most desirable workplace elements amongst employees. For these reasons, it is immensely rewarding to be connected with your cohort, in order to support both your academic development, and your morale and motivation, as you work towards completing your MSc of choice.
Studying at the University of Bath, you'll be welcomed into our rich, diverse and global online community, and given the opportunity to network and collaborate on your assignments in order to gain a deeper understanding of each module.
Considering the bigger picture
It's rare that a single person possesses all the knowledge needed to solve a problem; usually we need the help of others. Through collaboration, you gain a more holistic and comprehensive view of the issue at hand, because everybody will share their varied opinions based on their personal experiences.
Furthermore, working within a team promotes 'deep learning' - where you're forced to seek out the finer details. Honing this skill is crucial, since it teaches you how to explain, justify and communicate your ideas more clearly, in the process forming a stronger argument.
Building confidence
If you're used to working with people face-to-face within an office environment, it might feel daunting to suddenly have to communicate within a virtual world. With your cohorts located across the globe, it's unlikely you'll get the personal contact you're used to. However, through the Virtual Learning Environment we offer ample opportunity for you to discuss, debate and network with your peers. We also encourage students to create their own personal channels for communication, such as connecting via LinkedIn or setting up a group WhatsApp, so you can stay in touch after graduation.
Growing in confidence in the way you communicate across geographic boundaries and becoming familiar with different technologies to facilitate this is all part of the course, and a transferrable skill that is valued in the professional world.
Increasing motivation and engagement
When employees don't feel motivated, they can become disengaged from the organisation, which impacts performance and ultimately profit. Within your online course, the emphasis is on you to study - it’s only when you feel motivated to sit down and learn that you will gain the most from your studies.
Collaboration makes people feel more responsible, because their contribution is valued and needed by others. When encouraged to act collaboratively within their community, people tend to stick at their task 64% longer than their solitary peers, while also reporting higher engagement levels, lower fatigue levels and a higher success rate.
With the majority of employees (85%) reported to not be engaged in the workplace, it's clear to see why employers are so keen to recruit for this particular skill.
Study online with the University of Bath
With a reputation for research and teaching excellence, our online courses focus on the real world application of the lessons learned throughout the duration of your online degree. Designed to be immediately implemented in the workplace, we’re confident that you’ll graduate with the transferrable skills needed in the professional world that will help you to go further in your career.