The TeamWork programme – helping you improve your professional experience

What is TeamWork?

TeamWork is a four-week, part-time online programme where students from multi-disciplinary backgrounds collaborate in teams of six on a project provided by an external organisation. This innovative structure allows participants to gain practical international experience without having to leave home!

A Diverse Learning Experience

Let’s find out how some of the 2024 cohort have benefitted; Finley Towers, a first-year Philosophy student describes it as “a really enjoyable experience which, for the amount of time you put into it, is extremely valuable for improving your skills.” Maureen Wei, a second-year Economics student, emphasises the programme’s diversity: “You will experience working side by side with students from different universities. If this is the right thing for you, don’t hesitate to join!”

Real-World Projects, Real Impact

The TeamWork programme provides practical, real-world experience working with external organisations. Samuel Goodall, a third-year Physics student, explains: “You are directly involved with a company or organisation that are relying on you to come up with a strategy to help them achieve their goal.” Medha Mansi, a postgraduate Management student, adds, “You’ll be working with actual clients, handling tight deadlines, and seeing how you perform under pressure. It’s a chance to explore your strengths and weaknesses.”

Overcoming Challenges

The programme is not without its challenges, but overcoming these is part of the learning experience. Nathan Fernandes, another postgraduate Management student, shares: “The biggest challenge I faced was coordinating tasks across different time zones. We overcame this by establishing a flexible yet consistent schedule for meetings and updates.” Shuwi Bhandari, a third-year Law student, agrees: “For our team, it was time zones as we had members who lived in countries 6-10 hours ahead of the UK! Luckily, we managed to find a suitable fixed time to meet each week.”

Skills Development

Participants consistently report significant skill improvements, as Finley notes, “My research skills have improved through having to read and analyse a variety of articles and journals, which has improved my ability to gather, assess, and combine information from different sources.” Samuel gained confidence in his leadership skills: “I was in charge of setting up both inter-team meetings and those with members of the company; I often led those meetings too, setting the direction of the flow of discussion.”

Medha saw improvements in multiple areas: “I think my time management, presentation, and leadership skills really levelled up. Balancing this project with my dissertation was no easy feat, but it taught me how to juggle multiple responsibilities.”

Cultural Exchange and Global Perspectives

The programme’s international nature is a highlight for many participants. Medha shares, “The most interesting part for me was working with people from different cultural backgrounds. I made a lot of friends, and it was fascinating to see how everyone brought their unique perspectives to the table.” Samuel echoes this sentiment: “I really enjoyed working with my teammates from Monash University Malaysia and Australia, they all brought experiences and ways of thinking that were greatly different to my own.”

Career Insights

For many students, TeamWork provides valuable insights into potential career paths. Shuwi appreciated this aspect: “I really enjoyed delving into a field that was not related to my area of study and getting to have a taste of different career opportunities out there!”

The Final Presentation

The culmination of the students’ hard work is the final presentation, which is delivered to the organisation. Finlay found this particularly rewarding, “My favourite aspect of the programme was the final presentation; I enjoyed delivering our research and proposing the ideas we had come up with to solve the issues found within the project to a live audience.”

A Call to Future Participants

The consensus among past participants is clear: if you have the opportunity, take it! As Nathan says, “It’s an invaluable experience that provides not just growth but also a solid foundation for future professional endeavours.” The TeamWork International Experience Programme offers a unique blend of practical experience, cultural exchange, and personal growth. No matter your degree, this programme provides an opportunity to apply your skills in a global context and tackle real-world challenges.

Samuel summarises it perfectly: “Just go and do it! You never know what you might find, whether that be new friends, new skills, a better idea of what you would like to do in the future or something else; it’s going to be worth it!”

TeamWork One Team. One Project. Your Journey