A Course of Study Between Worldview and Reality

Isabella Ofenbauer, Graduate of the Intercultural Management Program

The Intercultural Management program taught me a great deal, both academically and professionally. Above all, though, it helped me grow as a person–and I hope you’ll feel the same way.

After high school, I was looking for a degree program that would combine my interest in business and economics with my passion for languages, travel, and meeting people from all over the world. At the time, I had no idea that I would find exactly what I was looking for in the Bachelor’s program in Intercultural Management at CU Carinthia University of Applied Sciences.

What I appreciated most during my studies were the wonderful people with whom I shared my daily student life for three years. Fellow students from Brazil, Hungary, Ukraine, South Africa, the Philippines, and many other countries opened up countless new perspectives for me. Although I was born and raised in Villach, I suddenly felt like I was part of Villach’s international community myself. Collaborating and spending free time with students from diverse cultural, linguistic, and professional backgrounds did more than just broaden my horizons. It also helped me gradually develop a global mindset in both my personal and professional lives.

I am also particularly grateful for the practical experiences that allowed us to supplement the theoretical knowledge we gained in class. Numerous activities and projects prepared us for work in the “real world.” These included the Global Case Study Challenge on virtual collaboration, a three-week intensive language course in Siena to improve our Italian skills, and Sustainable Entrepreneurship Week, during which we developed and presented a sustainable business idea. As part of the project management course, we also collaborated with the Malta-based company Global Mindset Development, gaining hands-on experience in project management. In addition, we were able to demonstrate our skills by earning a Google Certificate in Project Management.

To round out my experiences in an international academic environment, I spent my fourth semester in Rome. There, I was able to directly apply what I had previously learned about intercultural communication, collaboration, and management.

I would also like to highlight the program’s open and student-centered approach. In addition to regular feedback sessions, the leadership team was always willing to listen, offer support, and seek possible solutions when difficulties arose. Whenever I expressed concerns or brought up challenges, I felt taken seriously as a student. I also greatly appreciated seeing how the program was continuously developed and improved throughout my time there.

I would recommend this program to anyone who wants to learn how to work in an international environment and how to shape and manage it from both a process-oriented and a people-oriented perspective.