Projects at uni (economics)

[Smananamalo]

Has anyone had a DC who as part of an economics course did a group project?

What did it involve?

DD did economics in 1st year. It had a group project component not sure about detail but do remember DD moaning about lack of effort etc of team members and getting a rubbish mark. She tries to avoid modules with group work components. Luckily at her uni only last 2 years count for degree class (although competitive year abroad and placements do ask for earlier years grades).

One of mine went to a uni where in group projects you detailed your contribution and what others had done. Not sure how they used this in marking. However I don't remember him moaning as much as DD.

Group work is standard as part of lots of degrees. Ours do plenty over their three years and they're all different, both in terms of the academic requirements and the practicalities of managing the group work aspects.

I've been thinking about projects at university. In the sciences I assume you "make something".

In economics is it just a research paper?

Yes typically they would be given X problem to rewatch, Y data set to analyse, things like that. Depends on the learning outcomes.

Stick to the learning outcomes like glue.

Part of what is being tested in some courses is team skills. These can be difficult to showcase when one person doesn't contribute; if that happens, handle carefully.

Group research projects teach important “soft” skills, such as effective collaboration, collegiality, learning to identify your strengths and offer them to the team, and learning ways to mitigate your weaknesses.

Given how much of the modern workplace -especially for professionals- is about working in teams, group projects at university are very important for employability.

My youngest had to carry out research and then make a presentation. One group member didn't pull their weight, so the others compensated, quite happily, so the presentation was sound.