Research stays in Oxford and Sydney

© Ianina Scheuch

Dr. Ianina Scheuch (Chair of Business Education and Management Training) has spent numerous research stays abroad in recent years, particularly in English-speaking countries such as the United Kingdom (University of Oxford) and Australia (University of Sydney), and has established a wide range of international collaborations during that time.

During your time as a postdoc, you built an impressive network of international contacts and spent numerous research stays abroad. Looking back to the beginning—how did your first research stay come about?
It all began immediately after I completed my doctorate. Thanks to the faculty’s Dr. Händel Research Award, I was able to spend time conducting research at the University of Oxford. Looking back, that stay was the decisive impetus and foundation for my further development as well as for numerous international collaborations.

Why are international networks important, and how do you develop them? Do you have any tips for doctoral students and postdocs?
International networks form the foundation for collaborative research and open up new perspectives. From Oxford, I gained a solid methodological foundation for my research and was able to further develop my publications through close collaboration with experienced colleagues. In addition, during my stay, I collected initial data for my international study involving companies. Building on that, I was able to establish a research project at King’s College London and later organize an exchange with the University of Sydney’s Business School as part of the “Leadership in Disrupted Times” network, during which I completed a research visit and am currently working on a book chapter. Most recently, further international collaborations emerged at a conference in the U.S. My advice for doctoral students and postdocs is therefore: Don’t just use conferences for presentations, but in a targeted manner for personal exchange—and, if possible, visit other universities as well and actively apply for international funding opportunities.
 

You’ve been to universities on different continents. What differences stood out to you in particular?
Oxford is deeply rooted in tradition. The historic colleges and libraries create a very focused yet open, almost magical atmosphere.

I found Sydney to be modern and practice-oriented. I was particularly impressed by the new buildings at the Business School, the connection to Aboriginal culture through art and architecture, as well as innovative teaching formats and multimedia learning spaces, which have opened up many new methods for my own teaching. For me, these experiences show how academic traditions are reflected and continue to evolve across national borders, while each university simultaneously maintains its own identity.

A personal déjà vu moment for me was the historic Quadrangle in Sydney: As I stood there, I was briefly reminded of Oxford—the architecture is very similar. Another special moment was a chance encounter with German students at the surf school on Bondi Beach, where we took a windsurfing course together before a lecture. The temperatures in Australia were definitely warmer than in the UK.