“SprInt-ing” North
Corina Weissbach Travels to Finland on the »SprInt Programme«
When you think of Finland, you usually think of its sauna tradition, cold-temperate climate, reindeer and liquorice vodka. But architecture, product design and entrepreneurship are just as much at the centre of attention here, as Corina Weissbach, a member of staff at TU Dresden, discovered in June this year. She travelled to Helsinki for a week, making use of "Erasmus Staff Mobility". The opportunity is a component of the SprInt Programme, allowing non-academic staff at TU Dresden to improve their intercultural and language skills.
"First, I applied successfully to Aalto University in Helsinki and then the International Office agreed to cover the costs." Ms Weissbach works part time as editorial assistant in the press office at TU Dresden and at the Faculty of Computer Science as a member of the administrative staff.
The 40 international participants who gathered in Helsinki were able to preselect a key topic to focus on. "Working as I do in public relations, I was especially interested in the field of Communications, which was offered by the Finnish university." But there were also lectures and workshops on internationalisation, staff development and equal opportunities.
"All of the presentations and workshops were in English. For many participants, a basic knowledge was enough to communicate with each other." First, talks on the Finnish education system or the Nordic way of life provided an interesting introduction for everyone. "I found the creativity and openness of the Finnish colleagues particularly impressive. In this unconventional atmosphere, I gained a completely new perspective on work practices and the office environment." The "Design Factory" and also the "Start-up Sauna" are exemplary. Here, around the clock, students can develop their own projects, from the initial idea to the finished product. They are given assistance not only by scientists and external experts but also by financial backers.
Corina Weissbach recommends participating in the TUD’s SprInt Programme to everyone: "The Erasmus week broadened my horizons. The conversations with colleagues from all over the world were a particularly enriching experience for me."
TU Dresden's Institutional Strategy is funded by the Excellence Initiative of the German Federal and State Governments.
Photo Credits:
Flags Globe © piai - Fotolia.com
Ein internationales Quartett © Corina Weissbach