The transferable skills course: “Living and doing research in Germany - Intercultural and professional challenges”, was created and presented by Anna Lena Johannsen from IKUD-Seminare.
Foreign doctoral students bring with them culturally influenced educational traditions and ideas about studying and working life that can differ considerably from the study and corporate culture in Germany. For example, different cultures have different rules of conduct and different forms of verbal and non-verbal communication. In this course, the international doctoral students acquire intercultural skills to master these challenges. The doctoral students first experience a general cultural sensitization and then obtain concrete information about sensible measures and rules to be observed in interactions with lecturers, fellow students as well as with superiors and colleagues in German university and company contexts. Participants gain confidence in their behavior and intercultural communication skills. They also learn about their limits and possibilities.
