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 22 and focused on the topic “Teamwork”. (post coming soon).

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.

by Rachel Ellebye

I was lucky to have been joined by a CBS alumnus, who has asked to remain anonymous for this interview. They have joined me for a chat about wellbeing, and to try out the dialogue cards.

                             We opted for the cards on colleagueship. The interviewee has recently started a new job upon graduating from Copenhagen Business School and shares some reflection from their new job. This gives both of us the opportunity to share our thoughts on wellbeing and colleagueship at the workplace.

                             The dialogue card consists of three parts: The first part reads out a statement, and each participant chooses which answer(s) they prefer. The participants can also opt to not choose any of the answers. The second part reads out three different statements, and each player must place their gaming piece on a number between 1 and 5; if the piece is placed on 1, it means they don’t recognize the statement at all, and if it is place on 5, it means they recognize the statement and can relate strongly to it. The last set of cards consist of an open round of questions, which opened for reflection and new conversations on the topic of wellbeing.

                              The interviewee and I agreed on many of the statements, such as the one about how to approach someone who might need help with something. It was agreed that it all came down to the individual, the situation, and the environment of the workplace. While it may be necessary to reach out in some cases, it might be better to stay away in other cases. It is all about reading the room in the different situations. Although the interviewee works at a workplace, where it might be difficult to incorporate the dialogue cards, they certainly agreed on that they are a useful tool for many other workplaces in general.

Wellbeing – Why does it matter, how
do we start the conversation, and what can it do for university students?

A summarization of the first CBS – Wellbeing Conference, 1st October 2024

Simon Sinek’s “Golden Circle” theory begins with asking “why”[1] — and when it comes to the well-being of students at higher educational institutions like Copenhagen Business School (CBS), that question is particularly important. Before moving on with what the conference is about, let’s start with the kernel of circle; why is student well-being vital? How can we start the conversations about it? What difference does it make for students at CBS?

On October 1^st, 2024, CBS held its first-ever Well-Being Conference. The event was spearheaded by Pernille Steen Pedersen, a lecturer and researcher who also leads the CBS Well-Being Lab. The purpose of the conference was to address why student well-being matters and how it can be improved. More than one hundred showed up, including Peter Møllgaard, the dean of CBS, Inger Askehave, the Deputy President of CBS, Anna Tomassen, the Dean of Education at CBS as well as several students and other interested.

Pernille Steen Pedersen welcoming the visitors to the first Wellbeing conference

Why Well-Being Matters

The focus on well-being isn’t new, but it’s increasingly gaining attention, especially among younger generations like Gen Z, who are more open about discussing mental health. However, there is still much progress to be made in addressing well-being in higher education. Students often face intense academic pressure, struggle to balance their studies with personal life, and deal with feelings of insecurity. To put it into words: “Standing in a lake of insecurity”. These issues make student well-being a critical topic for institutions like CBS.

At the beginning of the conference, Inger Askehave raised several important topics, including the challenges that young people face today. She focused on highlighting the importance of communities, and that no one should ever felt left behind in the conversation on wellbeing. This brings us to the topic on wellbeing at universities. Navigating through the student life can be challenging and tough on many people, but if we focus on the importance of communities, we have already taken the first step towards being inclusive and open, even if it is not the easiest thing to do. It takes time, and it is worth the effort.

How to Start the Conversation

The Well-Being Conference was a way to spark that conversation. Over 100 attendees gathered to hear from four CBS alumni, who shared their research on well-being and took part in discussions with the audience. The conference also featured a podcast session from Karriereklubben (which you can listen to here: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ta3FhSjISCPWnk3OnWaPI) , followed by a panel debate featuring Peter Møllgaard, Emilia Caliskan from the Danish National Union of Students, and Marco Zanoni, president of CBS Students.

Four CBS alumni, Lea Thingmann, Natalie Chevilly, Karoline Keller Rolsted and Josephine Kugelberg Pedersen, were all invited to present their theses on wellbeing, which they all wrote during their time as Master Students at CBS. One of the questions that was raised during Lea’s presentation was a simple “How is your well-relating?” (once again, we may refer back to the golden circle’s second layer). Although it may appear as a simple question, there is room for lots of reflection and a thought process.

This sparked the conference and opened for the first panel session of the day.

Nathalie Chevilly presenting her study on wellbeing

The Impact of Well-Being Initiatives

A major takeaway from the conference was the importance of reducing stigma around issues like social anxiety. For this conference, Karriereklubben and a panel consisting of André Thormann, Benjamin Anker, and Cecilie Olesen, addressed a handful of dilemmas regarding wellbeing. During Karriereklubben’s session, a recent graduate posed a dilemma about whether to disclose their anxiety during a job interview. This discussion, also featured in a podcast recorded during the event, highlighted the need to normalize conversations around mental health. By addressing these topics, institutions like CBS can help reduce the stigma, making it easier for students to seek support. More on this in the next article.

The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly impacted student well-being, as noted by Marco Zanoni during the closing debate. The long periods of isolation and the shift to a post-pandemic world have taken a toll on students, reinforcing the need for initiatives like the Well-Being Conference.

Another important factor is the conversation between generations. Universities are often associated with young adults, most of them currently either late Millennials or Generation Z. Building bridges between the different generations is also an indication on how to start the conversation on wellbeing, as well as spreading it. This was clear during the closing debate with Marco Zanoni, Peter Møllgaard and Emilia Caliskan.

Looking Ahead

Improving student well-being is a long-term effort, but the success of the first Well-Being Conference is a step in the right direction. With plans for another conference in 2025, CBS is continuing its commitment to addressing this important issue. The more open and willing we are to discuss and address these topics, the more we will see an improvement. It all comes back to the kernel of the golden circle; why do we address this? Because there is a certain importance, when it comes to wellbeing. With this conclusion, I can say that we are already counting down to the next wellbeing conference!

// Rachel Ellebye

https://wellbeinglab.cbs.dk/3849-2/

Kunsten at forberede sig til at gå til eksamen

En snak om dét at gå til eksamen som gruppe

A podcast interview by Pernille Steen Pedersen with students, Emilie Elizabeth Klokholm and Amanda Ngoc Nguyen Madsen and teacher, Jesper Schlamovitz

In this podcast

Length: 30.52 minuts
Language: Danish
Key words: Group exam, exam anixety, exam preparation, teacher support

https://wellbeinglab.cbs.dk/3509-2/