August officially marked the beginning of a new study start semester at Copenhagen Business School. CBS Wellbeing Lab was excited to be part of the intro week, hosting several workshops for new bachelor and master students. All centered around wellbeing, collaboration and new university life.
Over the course of one week, three events took place where the lab’s research and tools were actively used.
August 21: Starting university life at CBS
The first event began on August 21, inviting nearly 3,000 students to a 2-hour workshop on the importance of wellbeing.
Adjunct Professor Pernille Steen Pedersen opened the session, exploring some of the challenges that come with starting university. The presentation was followed by an insightful panel discussion featuring musician, entrepreneur and CBS alumni, Jonas Ghodt, as well as our very own and Deputy President, Inger Askehave, and Dean of Education, Anna Thomasson, who shared their experiences on dealing with uncertainty, showing vulnerability as a sign of strength, and the importance of checking in on each other.
After the panel, students then got to play with our dialogue cards “New at CBS”. Forming groups of 3-4 students, they explored themes such as changing environments, the fear of making friends and stereotypes of a business school. The room buzzed with discussion, and we were excited to see such active participation, and honest thoughtful reflections.
August 25: Introducing the SEM Pilot Project
CBS Wellbeing Lab continued its intro week workshops with a session for the Service Management (SEM) bachelor program, where Pernille Steen Pedersen introduced the pilot project created for the program. The initiative is part of a larger wellbeing effort, where the lab over the course of three workshops, in collaboration with students, will test the tools and research done on improving wellbeing throughout the study course. The ambition to eventually expand these offers across CBS programs.
The first workshop was held on September 23 and focused on the topic “Teamwork”. (Read post here).
August 26: Workshop for 400 new GMA Master students
The final intro week event greeted students from the General Management and Analytics (GMA) master program. This session touched upon the ongoing complexity and strong potential of group work. A topic that becomes increasingly relevant as students approach the labor market, where collaborative problem-solving skills are key. Yet again, we were happy for the active participation and curiosity from both students and professors.
Prioritizing well-being matters
Wellbeing and teamwork are gaining increasing attention. Not only at CBS, but also among employers, stakeholders and organizations. However, an open and collaborative environment requires dialogue, vulnerability and willingness to learn from another.
These events are the fruits of the past 4 years of co-creating research and insights with students. We are ecstatic by the high participation during intro-week, and happy for the students and CBS faculty, who showed up with curiosity and commitment to improve wellbeing collectively. It is a testament that CBS prioritizes well-being – also during intro week.
We look forward to seeing you at the upcoming events!
Check out our “New Students” tab on the site, to find helpful videos from other students.
