Brighton Business School has been running Team Skills days for the past 15 years and they are now embedded into first year undergraduate courses.
The away days involve a wide range of challenges, both physical and mental, designed to foster teamwork and co-operation. Teams choose from a variety of activities, such as climbing, tunnelling, orienteering, abseiling and solving puzzles.
Team Skills days provide an excellent environment in which to develop practical skills such as communication, team building, leadership and problem solving. These are skills that will help students succeed both at University and in the workplace. The activities also cultivate a sense of personal achievement and pride, and provide an opportunity to mix with students from different cultures.
Student feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, in terms of both professional and personal development.
"A very memorable experience. I learnt the importance of working together in teams to achieve success. I made new friends and did something I thought I would never do: abseil. I conquered my fear. Overall, it was a wonderful day."
Shaira Wan Kamaruddin, Accounting and Finance BSc
"It was a great experience and I would recommend it to others. It was is a good way to meet new people and explore one's strengths and weaknesses."
Jimmy Meghany, Finance and Investment BSc
"Working in a team is a great way to get to know different characters. I loved every minute of it. Would like to do it again."
Gaby Maconkaite, International Business BSc
The Team Skills Days are delivered in in conjunction with outdoor activity provider Trekco and qualified instructors are always on hand to help the teams and give regular debriefs. Almost all tasks have roles for people who have a disability or who do not wish to participate in an activity which might make them uncomfortable.
Team Skills days can be arranged for students across the university. For more details contact the Programme Leader, Babak Sodagar, email b.sodagar@brighton.ac.uk.
