Jun 07, 2024
Chair of Information Management on an international visit to Stellenbosch South Africa
Visit to South Africa
The Chair of Business Information Systems, esp. Information Management, is expanding its international collaborations. The visit to Stellenbosch University in April this year aimed to establish academic contacts for future work and research, mainly in the areas of digital education and knowledge management. This trip was funded as part of the Erasmus+ Staff Mobility Exchange program. The main aim of the mobility was to establish networks, exchange knowledge and create potential future collaborations, primarily for the Research Associates and their research projects. The exchange with South African academics provided valuable insights into their research and opened up new perspectives.
Among the important academic contacts was Dr. Kanshukan Rajaratnam, Director of the School for Data Science and Computational Thinking at Stellenbosch University. His team is a leader in the development of innovative methods for data analysis and computational thinking. Another important meeting took place with Senior Lecturers Dr. Daniel le Roux and Douglas A. Parry. Le Roux, head of the Cognition and Technology Research Group, studies various dimensions of the interaction between people and technology, with a focus on cognitive and behavioral processes. Parry, also based in the Department of Information Science at Stellenbosch University, is part of the Cognition and Technology Research Group and conducts research in the areas of communication science, human-computer interaction and media/cyberpsychology. Also significant was Dr. Christiaan Maasdorp, who works at Stellenbosch University as Director of Studies for the postgraduate programs in Information and Knowledge Management. His research in knowledge management focuses on time and organization.
During the time in Stellenbosch, the staff of the Chair of Information Management held an interactive workshop in one of Dr. Christiaan Maasdorp's classes, in which the activities and core research areas of the Chair of Business Information Systems with a special focus on information management at TU Dresden were presented.
The presentation highlighted various research projects and publications and also emphasized the importance of online collaboration, especially in the context of digital transformation as a central topic. Methodical approaches to group process dynamics were discussed with the students in order to explain the dynamics and challenges of teamwork. Finally, measures to support online collaboration were discussed, including the use of dashboards and learning analytics to promote team self-management and self-reflection. The presentation ended with a discussion on the future impact of data and artificial intelligence on knowledge work and online collaboration.
Cultural activities:
In addition to the academic activities, the program also included cultural activities to deepen the understanding of South African culture and nature. A hike up Table Mountain in Cape Town offered a breathtaking view of the city and the surrounding area. A rugby match in Cape Town gave an insight into the local sporting culture and promoted team building. A visit to the world-famous Kruger National Park was also organized, allowing employees to experience South Africa's wildlife and understand the importance of conservation in Africa.
The time was used intensively to explore opportunities for further cooperation in teaching, research and joint projects. Research Associates Nick Volkmann, Dr. Samuel Reeb and Thomas T. Richter, who spent two weeks as researchers in South Africa as part of the program, report inspiring encounters and an enriching exchange of experiences. This research trip helped to increase the reputation and visibility of the Chair of Information Management at TU Dresden in the fields of learning analytics, conversational agents, gamification and knowledge management. The mobility also strengthened the institutions' and Research Associates' ability to conduct relevant and impactful research. As part of the mobility program, the South African colleagues will also come to Dresden at the end of the year to learn about research at TU Dresden.
We are pleased to be able to make a contribution to international cooperation at TU Dresden and are optimistic about the future.