Developing English language and international skills among staff
»Many international students are enrolled in studies or doctoral programmes carried out in English and therefore speak very little German. Often, they are not well acquainted with our university system or have special culturally based expectations or behaviours. In such cases, even experienced employees can reach their limits,« says Suzanne Wille, the admINT project coordinator in the International Office. For five years she has been serving international students, doctoral candidates and visiting academics, and she is well acquainted with the special requirements of this target group.
The Bauhaus-Universität Weimar received funding in 2015 from DAAD for qualification and support of its administrative personnel. For its admINT concept, the university will receive EUR 150,000 over a period of two and a half years within the framework of the »Modellprojekte zur Verbesserung der Willkommenskultur« (model projects for the improvement of the welcoming culture) programme. The money has been used to finance measures designed to improve English language skills, intercultural competencies, and international mobility of university staff, among other things. A team of representatives of the various university administrations and services assists the project by offering ideas and direct feedback.
Special offerings for individual requirements
The Language Centre will offer English courses tailored precisely to specific fields. A weekly English course designed especially for employees in the research department, which has been running since November 2015, shows just how practical this is. »We are working directly with the texts of calls for proposals, discussing draft contracts, translating typical e-mail inquiries and practicing oral advising consultation — precisely the skills these employees need in their day-to-day work,« says Dr. Susanne Kirchmeyer, explaining the course she teaches. »We want to extend this offering to other areas, and we need university staff to communicate its requirements and provide authentic text material.« To determine the types of English courses needed and obtain supporting materials, such as text building blocks and glossaries, the Language Centre has created a survey for all of the university employees:
http://evasys.uni-weimar.de/evasys/online/
(Use the following password needed to participate: AdmINT)
Cultures in focus
Intercultural training and talks are another component of the admINT project. Understanding of their own cultural biases, as well as practicing and trying out different strategies to deal with foreign cultures, help to strengthen employees and give them new skills. This can give staff the skills they need to master situations where cultural differences can cause stress and insecurity. The »Kulturen im Fokus« lecture series presents various cultures and background knowledge of their university systems, communication styles and service cultures.
New perspectives through international experience
The »Support for Mobility« initiative is designed enable non-academic personnel to gain experience abroad. Visiting international partner universities and engaging in exchange with local colleagues gives administrative staff insights into other work cultures, immersive foreign-language practice, and professional ideas for their own fields of work. But what steps are necessary to get the ball rolling? »That's where we come in,« says Wille, »We offer advice, help, and financial support. We want to reach out in particular to our colleagues who have had little or no experience abroad in the context of their jobs. We want to make sure that they, too, have the opportunity to hone their skills in dealing with members of international university communities and take part in the internationalisation process.«
Project website: www.uni-weimar.de/admint
Contact:
Susanne Wille
Project coordination for admINT
Tel. +49 (0 )3643/58 23 63
E-Mail: susanne.wille[at]uni-weimar.de