PhD Defence Weiwei Li 'Mixing cultures, boosting learning: how diversity can improve the value of student group work in higher education'

Join us on Thursday, December 5, 2024, when Weiwei Li will defend her dissertation titled "Mixing cultures, boosting learning: how diversity can improve the value of student group work in higher education" at the University of Groningen. 

Weiwei’s research explores how integrating diverse perspectives in group projects can boost learning experiences for students. She explores the conditions under which diversity enhances collaboration, offering a valuable understanding of what effective educational practices could be. This project holds present-day relevance and offers potential practical applications for both current and future educational practices. In today's context, where the integration of cultural diversity encounters some challenges, its insights are especially valuable.

To engage with her innovative findings and her hard work and dedication, you are heartily welcome to attend this event.  Below you will find the time and the schedule of the graduation ceremony. The defence will take place at Campus Fryslân, Wirdumerdijk 34, Leeuwarden.   

13.30 Layman's talk  
14.00 Public defence
15:30 Reception

If you cannot attend in person, you can follow the defence via the Livestream.

Let’s celebrate this important milestone in Weiwei's academic journey together! Don’t miss it!

PhD Project Insight
In today’s globally connected world, student diversity—encompassing various cultures, nationalities, and fields of study—is a valuable resource in higher education. When students from different backgrounds collaborate, it can lead to enriched learning experiences.
However, integrating these perspectives in group projects poses challenges, as students may be hesitant to engage fully, and educators must innovate to foster inclusive collaboration. Weiwei's PhD dissertation explores the question: “What conditions make diversity in group learning beneficial for students?” Using a framework called the Categorization-Elaboration Model, the study examines factors like students’ perceptions of the benefits and challenges of working with diverse peers, their learning goals, and the quality of their interactions. It also looks at teachers’ methods, their role in supporting students, and how they create a positive learning environment that values diversity.
By evaluating these elements, the dissertation sheds light on how diverse groups can enhance learning and help students develop intercultural competencies, ultimately making collaborative learning more enriching for everyone involved.

Supervisors: Prof. S. Otten & Prof. R.J. Coelen

About Weiwei Li
Weiwei Li, is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven school of education, in the Netherlands. Her research is centered on advancing educational innovations and competency-based learning in higher education. Building on her PhD work, she explores how student diversity can enrich learning experiences in small group settings. Expanding this focus to adaptive learning environments, she also investigates the role of AI and learning analytics in supporting self-directed learning for diverse students in higher education.

Weiwei Li is a currently a PhD at the Centre for Transformative Education, the hybrid research centre of Campus Fryslân and NHL-Stenden, dedicated to strengthening and transforming higher education within our region.