Technical Student-Run Organisations as Enablers of Engineering Students' Learning in Cross-Disciplinary Teams

Abstract

Student organisations and associations on university campuses provide opportunities for students to collaborate with peers from different study programmes and work towards common goals. Engineering students need to develop skills in teamwork, communication, and experience working with professionals from various disciplines. Engineering students often gravitate towards technical student-run organisations (TSROs), where they design and build projects such as space satellites or race cars, often to compete with other student teams.

This article employs a case study approach to analyse four TSROs from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), drawing on interviews with student leaders and members. As part of the interviews, students also created organisational maps to illustrate how their organisations function across different study backgrounds and roles.

The findings indicate that TSROs facilitate student learning and development in cross-disciplinary teams. However, the structure and division of responsibilities within each TSRO vary, influencing individual collaboration aspects. This article contributes to the understanding of how extracurricular activities, such as TSROs, serve as learning platforms for engineering students, particularly in developing skills essential for teamwork and collaboration within inter-, multi-, trans-, and cross-disciplinary teams.