For already over ten years the Faculty of Business annually invites guest lecturers from our European partner institutions to the ”International Project Week“ (IPW) during the spring semester. This year 15 lecturers from Ireland, Poland, Spain, France, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Russia followed the invitation and found their way to the seaport city from May 5^th to 9^th 2014. After thorough preparation the Team of the International Faculty Office Business Studies came up with an exciting and fun social programme. Special focus was on getting to know the partners‘ study programme offers, exchange of experience in the different fields and connecting on a personal level. The international projects were met with strong interest by the students. The projects in English, French and Spanish about “Doing business in Poland“, ”The importance of whistleblowers“, ”Les pratiques de GRH et le code du travail en France“, ”Responsabilidad Corporativa y Innovacion“, “Operations Management: History to Horsemeat“ oder “Business specifics in the Baltic countries, Ukraine and Russia“ and further fascinating topics offered a glimpse of international lectures and the opportunity to learn more about studying abroad at the partner institutions.  Additionally, students could get involved in the IPW as “buddies“ of  the lecturers and contributed to the success of the IPW.

The projects were completed by a broad social programme, which lead our guests to a convivial get-together at Henri´s, the Official Dinner at Hafenhaus, the „Kunsthalle“ and „Ostfriesisches Landesmuseum“ in Emden,  to the seal raising station (Seehundstation) in Norddeich following a final dinner at Regina Maris. Further highlights were the exciting visit to the co-generating power plant operated with woodchips of the Stadtwerke Norden as well as an unforgettable behind-the-scene of the indoor water park Ocean Wave. But the seals were by far the most adorable sight to see.

For all participants it was a very special week with a laid-back and cordial atmosphere. This is why saying goodbye after a few days was hard for everybody.  Some testimonies by guest lecturers:

„Each person who participated in the organizational team invested a part of her/his heart and soul in the event.” (Andrejs Limanskis, Lettland)

„Participating in the Emden IPW 2014 was a very enjoyable, interesting and stimulating experience. I learned a lot from my visit and look forward to meeting with Team IPW in future years.”

(Tom Mulvey, Irland)

It was a very successful week for participants and the Team IPW, which we aspire to be repeated in the next year!