International Group Heterogeneity and Students’ Business Project Achievement

Abstract

In business higher education, group project work plays an essential role. The purpose of the present study is to explore the relationship between the group heterogeneity of students’ business project groups and their academic achievements at both group and individual levels. The sample consists of 536 freshmen from an International Business School in a Dutch University. The research has revealed that students’ academic performances are positively correlated with their achievement in group projects at both individual and group levels. However, the group ethnic heterogeneity is negatively related with students’ project scores. The findings may enable education practitioners to gain more insights into students’ project work and manage students’ group work more effectively.

Keywords:

• Business group project
• Ethnic heterogeneity
• Multilevel analysis
• Business education
• Project learning

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ning Ding

Ning Ding, PhD, is a lecturer and researcher in the International Business School of Hanze University of Applied Sciences in The Netherlands. She earned her BBA from Shanghai Normal University and her MA and PhD from the University of Groningen. Her primary research interests include Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL), Business Education, Small Group Communication, etc.

Roel J. Bosker

Prof. Roel J. Bosker, PhD, is a professor of educational science at the University of Groningen. He is also the program manager of TIER-RUG, supervisor of the PhD students of TIER-RUG, and involved in the project meta-analyse and synthese of research. His research focuses on evidence-based education, inequality of educational opportunities, educational evaluation, and multilevel modeling.

Xiaoyan Xu

Xiaoyan Xu, PhD, is a lecturer and researcher in the International Business School of Hanze University of Applied Sciences in The Netherlands. She received her MA and PhD in linguistic research from the University of Groningen. Her research interests include language attrition and second-language acquisition.

Lucie Rugers

Lucie Rugers, MA, is a lecturer and researcher in the International Business School of Hanze University of Applied Sciences in The Netherlands. Her research focuses on intercultural communication and business communication, etc.

Petra PAM van Heugten

Petra PAM van Heugten, PhD, candidate, is a lecturer and researcher in the International Business School of Hanze University of Applied Sciences in The Netherlands. She is doing research on excellency profile of business professionals and talent education in business, etc.