7th International Teaching and Training Week on Communication in Bratislava, Slovakia

Claudia Schönekerl participated in the 7th International Teaching and Training Week from 15th to 19th of October 2018 at University of Economics in Bratislava (UEBA) in Slovak Republic. The overall topic of this event was „Challenges of Cross – Cultural Communication“. The week started with a welcome address by Prof. Ferdinand Daňo, Rector of the University of Economics in Bratislava followed by an introductory speech by H.E. Mr. Jun Shimmi, Ambassador of Japan to the Slovak Republic. This extraordinary start created a warm and welcoming atmosphere. After introduction of UEBA and a campus tour participants presented their home institutions in a „Who is who“ session. An amazing first day had its end with a guided tour through the historical centre of Bratislava. On Tuesday Peter Rusiňák, presentation coach from the American Chamber of Commerce in Slovakia and Tatiana Hrivíková, Vice – Dean for Science and Research from the Faculty of Applied Languages held the Workshop „Managing Teams and Cross – Cultural Communication“. In the afternoonthe particpants joined the ceremonial session of awarding the honorary degree of Doctor Honoris Causa of the University of Economics in Bratislava to Andreas Wörgötter – Professor of the University of Technology in Vienna, Austria. On Wednesday a workshop on the topic of „Internationalization and the Possibilities of International Academic Cooperation“ provided new networking chances. In the afternoon, a trip to Trnava was organised. After a guided tour through the „Little Rome“, as the city is called due to their many churches, a networking dinner in the restaurant „Academica“ completed this perfect day. Thursdays workshop was about „Time Management“ and again very interactive presented by Peter Rusiňák. The week ended with a visit of IBM on Friday. The participants learned about diversity measures of this company and listened to IBMer stories who they came to Slovakia and how they feel there. Finally, the particpants received their certificates in a closing ceremony. All in all it was a great experience and a lot of new contacts were established that hopefully will lead to new international cooperations.