BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg organizes Staff Week exclusively for EUNICE partner universities

BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg has set a new milestone in the cooperation between the EUNICE universities with a groundbreaking premiere of the Staff Week on "Intercultural Communication and Competences". Representatives from a total of 8 of the 10 partner universities met in Cottbus for a week of exchange and learning that emphasized the importance of intercultural competences for building European university alliances.

From November 27 to December 1, 2023, the first Staff Week was successfully held at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg under the leadership of the International Relations Office. The initiative resulted from a collaboration between BTU, the University of Mons (Belgium) and the Polytechnic Institute of Viseu (Portugal). The program included a virtual language preparation phase, which was completed by the participants in advance, followed by an intensive and interactive workshop and subsequent job shadowing in Cottbus.

The acceptance of human and cultural diversity is a cornerstone of our daily work at the university and plays a decisive role in shaping European university alliances. Targeted training in intercultural skills and effective Communication Technology is essential for all employees at our universities. During the joint workshop in Cottbus, dynamic methods such as case discussions, analyses and practical reflections were used to create real-life situations that enabled participants to authentically understand intercultural situations in everyday working life.

The Staff Week also offered the opportunity for a lively exchange through job shadowing with colleagues from BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg. This centerpiece of the Staff Week was intended to offer all participants the opportunity to make contacts and further fill the alliance with life. Organizer Christin Handrek emphasized: "I am very pleased about the numerous committed employees from different areas of BTU who took part in the job shadowing. This was a valuable opportunity to learn from each other and gain insights into processes at partner universities, as well as to allow our alliance universities to grow closer together through personal contact."

Following the successful completion of the Staff Week at BTU, there are plans to offer this format at other universities in the European University Alliance EUNICE in the future. This is an important step towards actively funding intercultural exchange and cooperation.

Are you also interested in taking part in a Staff Week or Job Shadowing? Please feel free to contact us!

What is a Staff Week?

A Staff Week is an organized event where colleagues from different universities come together to exchange ideas on specific topics, share expertise and fund intercultural skills. During this week, for example, workshops, discussions and practical activities take place that allow participants to gain insights into different ways of working and learn from each other. This intensive personal exchange is crucial for creating a network, sharing knowledge and promoting cooperation across national borders.

What is job shadowing?

Job shadowing gives people the opportunity to accompany colleagues in their working environment for a short period of time to gain insights into their daily tasks and responsibilities. This direct experience makes it possible to understand work processes and challenges first-hand, funds direct exchange between those involved and creates a valuable platform for sharing knowledge and best practices. The personal contact strengthens relationships, improves understanding of different ways of working and contributes significantly to intercultural learning and collaboration.