Intercultural Competencies? Intercultural Competencies!

1. Intercultural Competencies?Intercultural Competencies! Dr. Irmy SCHWEIGER, University of Göttingen German-Chinese Institute for Intercultural German Studies and Comparative Culture Intercultural Competencies 31 March 2009

2. Intercultural Competencies 31 March 2009

3. Experiences Personal Social Professional Communicative Joint Programme Planing Preparation Implementation Experiences and Recommendationsfor Joint Programms Intercultural Competencies 31 March 2009

4. Every Journey Starts with a First Step千里之行，是从第一步开始的 Intercultural Competencies 31 March 2009

5. Personal and professional contacts Alumni, summer academy joint reseach projects Joint publications General or research interest Internationalization … Planing Intercultural Competencies 31 March 2009

6. Official and inofficial visits bottom-up initiative (slow but sustainable) Top-down initiative (faster but…) Planing Intercultural Competencies 31 March 2009

7. Planing / Preparations Formal structure: • establishment of „German-Chinese Institute for Intercultural German Studies and Comparative Culture“ Intercultural Competencies 31 March 2009

8. Formal structure: Application: Establishment of an innovative European-Chinese MA Double Degree in Intercultural Studies Planing / Preparations Intercultural Competencies 31 March 2009

9. Preparations: The Asia-Link Project LEAD - Georg-August-University PARTNERS • Nanjing University • Beijing Foreign Studies University • Anhui University • The University of Edinburgh Intercultural Competencies 31 March 2009

10. Preparations • Definition of aims (1): • Establishment of an Master programme Intercultural German Studies: Germany – China with double degree Department of Intercultural German Studies Dep. of German Studies Dep. of German Studies Intercultural Competencies 31 March 2009

11. Preparations • Definition of aims (2): • Interdisciplinary intercultural modules for flexible integration • Chinese-British joint study programme for students and teachers Cultural Studies English and European Studies English and Media Studies Intercultural Competencies 31 March 2009

12. Preparations • Definition of aims (3): • Establishment of a German Department and German Studies programme at Anhui University School of Foreign Languages Department of Intercultural German Studies Dep. of German Studies Intercultural Competencies 31 March 2009

13. Aims achieved: implementation of double degree (Nan – Bei – Goe) establishment of joint study programme (Ed – Nan – Bei) establishment of department and study programme of German Studies (An) by way of networking: political institutional academic/ professional economic public personal Implementation Intercultural Competencies 31 March 2009

14. Implementation: Political Networking • Federal Ministry of Education and Research • Chinese Ministry of Education • Lower Saxonian Ministry of Science and Culture • Chinese Ambassy in Germany • German Research Council (special library) • DAAD (Joint degree Programme) • China Scholarship Council (scholarships) = PROFESSIONAL Inter- and intracultural communication Intercultural Competencies 31 March 2009

15. Implementation: Institutional Communication • External • Joint Institute • Center for European Studies, Nanjing • Cooperating with further tertiary Institutions … 2.Internal • Lecture series „Intercultural Dialogue“ • permanent flow of information with decision-makers • visibility of project progress by official openings and ceremonies = PROFESSIONAL Communication Intercultural Competencies 31 March 2009

16. Implementation: Professional Communication • Conferences and workshops • Publications • Train the trainer – Alumni Summer schools Intercultural Competencies 31 March 2009

17. Implementation: Economy networking • joint projects to secure practice or job placement • joint projects with companies to get informed on demand of the labor and job market • to assure financial support (e.g. scholarships, guest lectures) Intercultural Competencies 31 March 2009

18. Implementation: Public communication Marketing – PR for information and visibility • participation in the „German Culture Weeks“ (Nanjing 2007) • European Higher Education Fairs (Beijing, 2007) • German-Chinese Education Week (Hamburg, 2007)… • Public lecture series „Year of Intercultural Dialogue – EU“ • „Artists in Residence“ exchange programme Nan - Goe Intercultural Competencies 31 March 2009

19. INTERCULTURALITY (theory & working method) joint planning and development of core curricula Intercultural Competencies Intercultural Competencies 31 March 2009

20. INTERCULTURALITY (theory & working method) joint development and evaluation of modules and course materials Intercultural Competencies Intercultural Competencies 31 March 2009

21. INTERCULTURALITY (theory & working method) intensive communication and regular meeting with partners Inclusion of all staff members Intercultural Competencies Intercultural Competencies 31 March 2009

22. … Words and gestures of respect Intercultural Competencies Intercultural Competencies 31 March 2009

23. Language competence Interpreters Translations (Chinese and German versions) to avoid misunderstandings to show your appreciation and respect Intercultural Competencies Intercultural Competencies 31 March 2009

24. Have fun together You get to know each other even better… Stress management = PERSONAL communication Intercultural competencies Intercultural Competencies 31 March 2009

25. … Respect holidays and „taboo times“ Intercultural Competencies Intercultural Competencies 31 March 2009

26. Experiences • self conception of all participants as a group with common objectives but different means and ways to reach them • confidence into the project partners, esp. into their competence to solve occuring problems and difficulties • willingness to reflect oneself in different cultural contexts • to be open for conflicts and problems arising during the project Intercultural Competencies 31 March 2009

27. Experiences positive experience • willingness and openness of all participants to work and reflect in an intercultural context • successful networking and general interest in the project from various sides • additional projects arising from the project (joint publication, international research group …) constraints • project is unique and without model > pilot project > no clear guidelines for implementation • heavy load of administration and budget management Intercultural Competencies 31 March 2009

28. Master Programme Intercultural German Studies: Germany – China with double degree 1 year in Goettingen 1 year in Beijing/ Nanjing Internship in guest country Joint courses Languages: German, Chinese, English Happy End: Intercultural Study programme Intercultural Competencies 31 March 2009

29. Values diversity Fosters mutual understanding Respects diverse needs do not homogenise do not focus on difference rather be aware of diversity (no stereotypes...) Intercultural Classroom Competence Intercultural Competencies 31 March 2009

30. Collaborative learning Learn about own cultural encoding Learn about cultural pre-programming of others = different didactic approach (from 教书 to育人) = cross-cultural teaching styles Intercultural Classroom Intercultural Competencies 31 March 2009

31. Trust and respect your partners! 达到目的的途径很多 There are more ways of killing a dog than by hanging Intercultural competencies are relevant for ALL students not a special course for international students… Conclusions Intercultural Competencies 31 March 2009

32. Thank You!谢谢 Intercultural Competencies 31 March 2009