Student Network

Forum for Dialogue

Forum for Dialogue is a central function in the research design and is created primarily as a network for and with the students that are a part of the project. Through this Forum hosted at CBS Canvas, participating students will form a Student Research Panel and be closely involved in the research process as well as the development and testing of new stress-preventative measures and activities as we go along. It is meant as a site for interaction, sharing and gathering knowledge. Additionally, the Forum will also invite researchers, teachers and administrative staff to participate in the ongoing dialogue, either due to a specific knowledge and expertise or because of an interest to participate in the project and the issue of stress among students. Anyone interested in participating are welcome to contact Pernille Steen Pedersen.

Student Research Panel

The Student research panel are considered primary sparring partners and are integrated into the overall research design. To Pedersen, it is essential that students are included into the development of new measures that concern their well-being and study environment. This collaborative method is, furthermore, being developed and used to experiment with integrating students more into research projects at CBS as a means to advance teaching methods and enhance learning possibilities.

Hear below from two students, why they have engaged to participate in the research project.

Julie Buhl

Kirstine Frandsen

Bachelor project connected to the research

In the spring semester of 2021 two bachelor students, Josephine Kugelberg Pedersen and Karoline Keller Rolsted, are conducting research on stress and shame among students at CBS for their final bachelor thesis. Their project is titled “Shame, stress and students” and supervised by Pernille Steen Pedersen. Part of their work has been to develop and conduct a survey among CBS students on experiences with shame and stress, and this collected data will also contribute to Pedersen’s research project “stress prevention and well-being amongst students at CBS”.

CBS Well-being Ambassadors

As a response to the immense challenges that the Corona pandemic has brought about for CBS students, Student Affairs in the program administration decided in early 2021 to launch a new campaign to focus on well-being and strengthening of student community. On this basis the idea for the well-being ambassadors was born. While Student Affairs sets the platform and gives support, the idea behind Well-being Ambassadors is that it is students who help other students on issues like loneliness and lack of motivation by focusing on solidarity, togetherness, and building a trusting community. Over 100 bachelor students from different programs are now volunteering as well-being ambassadors, creating dialogues and activities among students. In an interview to CBS Wire, Student Coach Mette Gøtterup-Tang, who has been involved in the initiative, says: “It’s great that wellbeing is on the agenda. This means we, as an organization, acknowledge the importance of it. And we have great expectations about that and the wellbeing ambassadors. We hope the students’ activities will help the ambassadors to improve the situation.” Read more about the initiative and how it came about, in the full article here.

The work of the Well-being Ambassadors is well aligned with the ideas behind this research initiative on preventing stress among students and enhancing well-being. It is our hope to collaborate and share ideas on this shared agenda. It could for example be in the form of sharing research findings on what triggers stress among students with the group of Well-being Ambassadors, which might be relevant in their conversations and activities. It could also be to test some ideas together, like, to develop some dialogue cards to assist in addressing these topic in new ways.

CBS intro-guides

Each year new bachelor students at CBS are invited to participate in an introductory program consisting of intro courses and activities lead by experienced CBS students who volunteer as intro-guides. The activities are planned to help new students to be introduced to each other, to get familiar with CBS, and generally to settle better into their new study life at a given program. In other words, “to ensure a good start to academic and social life at CBS”. The introduction activities are organized by the study boards in cooperation with the intro-guides. Study Affairs also work with the processes and training for becoming intro-guides – again with a strong focus on student well-being. Student Affairs are constantly looking into how the introductory week can serve as a support and good start for new students at CBS.

CBS Mentors

Student Affairs at CBS host different initiatives aimed at providing new students at CBS with the best possible start to their new studies and life as students. One such initiative is the CBS Mentoring Program. Thus far, more than 160 mentors and 375 mentees representing more than 60 nationalities have participated in this program. As CBS alumni the mentors will both share experience from their prior studies as well as from their subsequent careers. The purpose is to support new students in developing their study techniques, study approach and balance in their life as students and also to provide sparring on the choices and transitions students come to face regarding their careers. A central focus point is that academic, social, and personal life all needs to function well and in balance; which is an important life skill that also can help students navigate the work-life balance when entering the work marked. All mentors must apply to enter the program and take a two-day training workshop where topics of well-being and balance are a central part.