Group projects in academic programs play a vital role in preparing students for professional realities where collaboration among professionals from diverse backgrounds (disciplinary, geographical) is essential for solving complex problems. These projects cultivate collaborative learning, skill diversity, and cross-cutting skills such as organizing partnerships, planning to meet deadlines, and displaying positive leadership.

On the other hand, through group interactions and discussions, members are exposed to different viewpoints, challenging their assumptins and stimulating creative thinking. Additionally, the collective brainstorming process fosters a culture of experimentation and exploration, encouraging members to take risks, explore unconventional approaches, and continuously refine ideas through the iterative nature of group projects. By working together, individuals can combine their unique insights and expertise, leading to the emergence of innovative solutions that may not have been possible through individual efforts alone.

However, to fully leverage these benefits, effective group work management is essential; interpersonal conflicts, contribution inequalities, and time constraints can pose challenges within groups. In the context of online education, these challenges can be exacerbated. Students are geographically dispersed, complicating coordination, and cultural diversity can lead to misunderstandings. Moreover, students in continuing education often have family and professional obligations, making their regular participation in group projects challenging.

Group formation should aim for a balance between skill diversity and member compatibility. Overly heterogeneous teams may face communication difficulties, while overly homogeneous teams risk lacking varied perspectives and creativity. Members' personalities, work preferences, and interpersonal skills also play significant roles in a group's success. Furthermore, the choice of project topic and partners also factors into motivation and engagement.

We present a study by four students in the on-campus public health master's program, facilitated by the e-learning student coordinator and supervised by two teachers. The goal was to explore students' group work experiences in the e-learning public health master's program at Bordeaux School of Public Health. A literature review was conducted to explore the state of knowledge in the fields of education sciences, social psychology, management, and the "science of team science," taking into account their application to the sphere of public health and distance learning. A qualitative research based on focus groups and interviews was developed to gather the opinions and experiences of students enrolled in the e-learning public health master's program as well as those of teachers responsible for courses integrating group projects.

Thematic analysis highlighted students' adaptability and adept use of modern tools for remote coordination. For them, group work entails more than just pedagogical challenges; it provides an opportunity to connect. The main challenges they face are organizational and inherent to distance learning, but there are many facilitators that enable them to work together. Effective and open communication, humor, flexibility, and adaptability to unforeseen circumstances are all necessary individual qualities for successful group work management.

Teamwork in university projects fosters creativity and innovation, enabling students to address real-world challenges. By embracing diversity and promoting effective group management, such projects empower students to drive positive change. In an era of advanced technology, our study emphasizes the irreplaceable value of human interaction for effective collaborative work, with findings informing recommendations for multidisciplinary e-learning group formation and management in the digital age.

References
-Chang et al 2018. When Group Work Doesn’t Work: Insights from Students. CBE Life Sci Educ.
-de Prada et al 2022. Teamwork skills in higher education: is university training contributing to their mastery? Psicol Reflexao E Crit.
-Mathieu et al 2019. Embracing Complexity: Reviewing the Past Decade of Team Effectiveness Research. Annu Rev Organ Psychol Organ Behav.
-Rolle-Greenidge et al 2021. Group Formation in a Cross-Classroom Collaborative Project-Based Learning Environment. In: Proceedings of the 17th International Symposium on Open Collaboration.