This case study was commissioned as part of the Higher Education Academy Subject Centres for Hospitality Leisure Sport and Tourism (HLST) and Business Management Accountancy and Finance (BMAF) Enhancing series which focused on International Learning Experience.
This two-phase mixed methods study explores the benefits and drawbacks of mixed nationality group work for students at York St John University (YSJU). The first phase surveys Business Management students on their experience of group work. The second phase focuses on a threat to equity mentioned in phase one: different levels of intra-group academic achievement. The theme of this study is the construction and use of ideas about 'difference' in learning groups. In the study it examines students' beliefs about how differences within their groups may account for the benefits and difficulties they have experienced. From the range of ideas expressed by students about difference in learning groups the author selected the category 'ability' and described the relationship between individual and group marks on a module of study at YSJU.
