Embedding interuniversity peer review in virtual learning groups: A research-based learning scenario

Abstract

Interdisciplinary cooperation in virtual groups has become a reality and challenge for businesses and institutions in the globalised world and thus a main learning objective for business students. This paper reports an inter-university cooperation between a German University of Applied Sciences and an Austrian University, in which students of both institutions work together in virtual learning groups. They collectively develop a research project concerning “ethical issues of digital communication”. The students pass the different stages of a typical research process starting with a relevant research question towards the presentation of the findings at a conference. For this research-based learning scenario a process model is developed based on established theory and including a Peer Review process for students from three courses of both universities. An accompanying study collects qualitative and quantitative data on Peer Review as a learning method in an inter-university context and the role of media for virtual cooperation.