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Networking and relationships

Relationship circle – this is why good relationships in your studies are important

Et billede af en studiegruppe rundt om et rundt bord

As a student in higher education, you face both academic and personal challenges that can shape your future. An often overlooked but crucial element for academic success and well-being in your studies is the building of good relationships. Here are some key arguments for why it is worth focusing on.

Table of contents

Therefore, you should invest time in your study relationship
4 things that good relationships can give you as a student
Use the circle of relationships and gain insight into your relationships
Your relationship skills are crucial for group work

Derfor bør du investere tid i dine studierelationer

Better well-being, development potential, and a sharp mind. There are many reasons to ensure good relationships in your studies. Several studies show that people with good relationships have better health, live longer, and recover faster from physical and mental illnesses than people with weak or no relationships.

In other words, there is a strong correlation between people’s social relationships and their physical and mental health. In fact, the lack of social relationships is just as big a risk factor for health as smoking, extreme alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, poor diet, and obesity.

These somewhat extreme facts we put on the table are not to scare you if you don’t feel your network is large in your studies – it is just a reminder of the importance of relationships in general.

And actually, you don’t need to have many relationships. It is enough to have two or three people in your network who can nourish your energy, challenge you, and support you.

When we are in close relationships, oxytocin is released, which is also called the love or bonding hormone. It lowers stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, and it makes us better at concentrating, better at learning, more creative, and we gain greater self-confidence. The positive effects not only create well-being and cohesion, but they also have an impact on academics. You will simply become better at processing all the information you are presented with as a student during a day.

Sita Michael Bormann, Work Life Consultant at IDA.

How to create a good network during your studies

Fact box

4 things that good relationships can give you as a student

1. Academic support and learning

Collaboration in study groups: Relationships provide the opportunity to participate in study groups where you can share knowledge, discuss topics, and help each other understand complex concepts in the curriculum.
Feedback and sparring: Friends and fellow students can provide valuable feedback on assignments, projects, and exam preparation.

2. Social support

Motivation and backing: Studies can be demanding, and friends can be a source of support when it gets tough.
Adapting to new environments: Starting higher education can be challenging, and good relationships can make the transition easier.
Prevention of loneliness: Social relationships can reduce feelings of isolation and create a sense of belonging. Loneliness increases the risk of not completing your studies.

3. Personal development

Perspective and insight: Interacting with people from different backgrounds can broaden your horizons and give you new perspectives on your field, the world around you, and yourself.
Communication skills: Good relationships require you to listen, communicate, and collaborate – skills that are also important in working life.
Conflict management: Learning to navigate relationships and handle disagreements constructively is an important life skill.

4. Future career

Network for the future: Many relationships formed during your studies become professional contacts that can kickstart your career after graduation.
Recommendations: Friends and fellow students can recommend you, which can lead to concrete job opportunities.

Are you in doubt, and have you lost motivation for your studies?

Use the relationship circle and gain insight into your relationships

At IDA, we have developed a tool for you that can help you get an overview of all your relationships. You can use the relationship circle to find out how many close, less close, and distant relationships you have. You can use the circle by setting a goal and seeing which relationships you need to focus more or less on to achieve that specific goal.

The relationship circle gives you a good overview of your relationships

Perhaps you want more acquaintances in the new city you have just moved to? Here you can write down the names of those you have a distant relationship with but who live close to you. Are there any of them you might work on bringing closer to the centre and perhaps, in the long run, develop a close relationship with?

The exercise here is to fill in the surrounding circles with the relationships you have in your daily life, both in your study/work life (blue text) and in your private/leisure life (red text).

Download template

Your relationship skills are crucial for group work

According to Sita Michael Bormann, there is a good reason why many people struggle with relationships.

You don’t learn about relationship skills anywhere. Students do a lot of group work, but how to engage in a group in a good way is not something that comes naturally. Relationship skills are not on the curriculum anywhere in the education system.

Sita Michael Bormann, Work Life Consultant at IDA

She believes it is important to create group contracts from the start, so roles, tasks, and expectations are aligned when you engage in group work or join a study group. Otherwise, the quality of the group work will decline.

In teacher education, they have started teaching relationship skills, and it might be something to consider for STEM programmes as well.

Sita Michael Bormann, Work Life Consultant at IDA

Whether you have many good or few less good relationships, there is always a good reason to review your relationships. And if you lack the social skills to build relationships, there is fortunately good advice available on this page.

Job and career fairs: A valuable head start in your job hunt

If you wish to expand your network and create more study relationships that can prove valuable now and in the future, take advantage of your opportunities as a student member below.

IDA Networks

Join an IDA network and get access to professional and social events across the country. There are more than 70 networks to chose from. Joining is free and most events are free or cost-friendly for our student members.

Find your network

Strong relationships create good results

Improve your relational skills with this course. Gain insight into emotional intelligence, effective communication, and conflict management. Danish courses are always with subtitles.

Take course

IDA STEM Students

IDA STEM Students is a student political organisation that fights to create the best conditions for you and your fellow students. As a volunteer in the association, you exponentially expand your professional network.

Volunteer

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