Interculturally competent abroad - workshop for exchange students

Students met at Brandenburg University of Technology (BTU) on Wednesday, June 4th 2025, for an intercultural workshop to prepare for their studies abroad. As part of the ERASMUS+ and STUDEXA exchange programs, more than 50 students have decided to spend a semester abroad this year in Spain, Poland, Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Hungary, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, China and Namibia.

The workshop designed by the International Relations Office provided information on intercultural communication and cultural sensitivity. The BTU outgoing students learned more about cultural differences in an academic context and strategies for coping with culture shock. Group discussions gave them the opportunity to share their expectations, fears, and experiences.

The workshop was accompanied by former BTU outgoing students who studied at the Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia and the Université de La Réunion, France. They talked about how one's own cultural imprint influences assumptions about other people and how one can prepare oneself to deal constructively with situations in which the “rules of the game” are different than expected.

At the end, all students received a certificate of participation from the International Relations Office as well as a gym bag containing a water bottle and other essential items for a stay abroad. The students were encouraged to take pictures abroad with these merchandise items in order to have the opportunity to publish these pictures in an exhibition afterwards.
For all those who are still interested in a stay abroad in Europe or worldwide at short notice, there are still a few places available for the summer semester 2026.