International Week 2025

• What are the effects and outcomes of study abroad semesters?
• Does international mobility increase students’ intercultural competence?
• How can we strengthen students' intercultural skills and better prepare them for international experiences during their studies and careers?
• How significant are intercultural competences in professional life and society?
• How can the International Office better serve diverse target groups?
• Let's reflect on our own intercultural competence - how do we deal with challenging situations?

• Welcome and Introduction on May 12
• Workshops for non-academic staff on May 13 and 15
• Lectures for academic staff on May 13 and 15
• Company visit and excursion to the Black Forest on May 14
• Group Dinner and networking events

A detailled program will be uploaded here at a later point.

We invite academic staff to give lectures from a variety of fields, such as management, economics, finance, health, international relations, IT, political science, social work and other topics to provide a multi-faceted insight into current issues.

Possible topics can include corporate social responsibility, Artificial Intelligence, digitalization, sustainability, globalization, intercultural competence.

We invite colleagues from a variety of areas, such as International Relations, Erasmus Offices, Career services etc, to participate in our workshops and activities. Participants are welcome to present experiences and related topics. The focus in 2025 will be will be on

Crossing Cultures - Enhancing Intercultural Competence for Global Mobility

Intercultural competence plays an important role fostering global mobility and is essential for effective and successful experiences abroad. It highlights the importance of appreciating and understanding diversity while navigating different cultural contexts. During our interactive workshops we will discuss and explore intercultural competences from multiple perspectives and learn from best practices. We will reflect on our own intercultural competence and exchange how we deal with challenging situations.

Experience the Black Forest region in the German state of Baden-Württemberg, one of the leading economic and innovative regions in Germany and Europe, home to internationally renowned companies, but also a vacation destination with beautiful landscapes and a rich cultural life.

On the edge of the Central Black Forest, centrally located between Stuttgart and Lake Constance in the border triangle of Germany, France and Switzerland, Villingen-Schwenningen is an ideal destination for an interesting city trip or a vacation in a unique landscape. Enjoy the livable and lovable town with its many possibilities and discover what it has to offer.

Explore Villingen's historic town center with its numerous sights, beautiful half-timbered houses, romantic alleyways and babbling brooks. Embark on a fascinating tour into the past of the Zähringer town, as the almost intact town wall with its mighty fortified and gate towers, which surrounds the Zähringer crossroads, is also worth a visit.

Also worth seeing is the Schwenninger Moos, a moorland area and natural paradise that can be reached in a few minutes from our university.