Integrating academic, professional and personal learning through multicultural group work

Abstract

Multicultural group work is an element of pedagogy which presents rich opportunities for helping students function more effectively within the intercultural contexts of their worlds. Drawing on theories of cosmopolitanism and the ‘capability approach’, this action research project aims to evaluate and enhance the role of multicultural group working to promote not only academic learning, but simultaneously to act as a platform upon which students can explore and develop more cosmopolitan-aware professional and personal selves. Semi-structured interviews with 17 pharmacy undergraduates identified four main themes which helped to explain the benefits of learning in diverse groups, which provided opportunity for students to integrate their subject knowledge with greater understanding of others and their situations, and a re-evaluation of their own knowledge and perspectives. Based on findings, changes will be implemented in the first year of the course, with follow-up evaluation to inform further review and potential changes throughout the course