Boundless inspiration during International Week

Under the theme ‘The Future of Work in a Global Context’, lecturers from around the world visit our university. How do they experience this dynamic week, and what can we learn from one another?

What once started as a small-scale initiative within the Faculty of Business, Finance & Marketing (BFM) has grown into a major event involving more than nine hundred participating students and guest lecturers. Some of them, such as Robert Pichler and Virginia Groegl from the University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt, even return on a regular basis.

THUAS as a benchmark

Professor Robert Pichler is attending International Week for the fourth time. This year, he is delivering a lecture and leading a workshop on Employability and Resilience in Disruptive Times. "The Hague is the most international place in Europe," he says enthusiastically. "The organisation behind this week operates at an exceptionally professional level. Everything is perfectly arranged for visiting lecturers. For us, International Week truly serves as a benchmark."

His colleague Virginia explains that this admiration extends beyond words: "After three visits to The Hague, we decided that we wanted to create something similar ourselves. Last May, we organised our very first International Week, using the concept developed by THUAS as our inspiration. We even adopted the student stamp card system!"

Personal growth comes first

Both lecturers emphasise that internationalisation extends far beyond academic content alone. Robert explains: "The curriculum is not the most important aspect of an exchange programme. What matters most is the tremendous personal growth. You step outside your comfort zone, learn to navigate unfamiliar environments, and discover how you respond to entirely new situations."

Although their university in Austria operates on a smaller scale than THUAS, both institutions offer the same opportunities for personal development. Virginia is particularly impressed by what she sees in The Hague: "This year's theme, the impact of AI on the labour market, is incredibly inspiring. Above all, I hope to learn a great deal from the students during this week."

Dreaming of an even broader future

The guest lecturers not only enjoy teaching but also highly value the extensive network facilitated by International Week. Virginia does point out one ‘luxury problem’: "All the sessions take place simultaneously! I would love to attend the workshops led by my international colleagues as well, so I can learn from their expertise."

Robert sees the continued expansion of the week as a natural next step. "I see the event growing every year. What started within BFM has now expanded to include IT and Design. The ideal development would ultimately lead to a programme that encompasses the entire university. The staff working on this initiative are absolutely on the right track to make that happen."