A Virtual Study Week 2021

In the past years, many impressive experiences were gained and instructive trips were undertaken with the students through the offer within the framework of the elective subject "Intercultural Study Week". The "Intercultural Study Week" enables students to gain intercultural experience during their studies, to get to know the way how universities and companies work abroad, to apply their language skills practically and in a professional environment, and to exchange ideas with the lecturers and students there. The "Intercultural Study Week" usually takes place at changing partner universities of the HHN abroad and due to the pademic, it is now held for the second time virtually.

High-ranking national and international guest speakers

The Virtual Study Tour included a wide range of contributions from guest speakers from various partner universities as well as renowned national and international institutions such as the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce India, German-Russian Chamber of Commerce Moscow Russia, German-Brazilian Chamber of Industry & Commerce Rio de Janeiro Brazil, WITTENSTEIN SE Germany, Dr. Oetker, Indian Subcontinent India, MD Area9 Lyceum India SA & Zoomcar Inc India, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, German University in Cairo, Vietnamese German University.

The Virtual Study Tour was accompanied and organised by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Ott and Prof. Dr. Ralf Dillerup. Mr. Ott is Professor of Technical Optics and Design as well as Programme Director for the International Study Programmes and Second Dean of Studies for the Master's programmes at the Faculty of Mechanics and Electronics (T1). Professor Dillerup lectures at the Faculty of Economics and Transport (WV). He is Professor of Strategic Management and Controlling and Head of the Institute for Strategy & Controlling at Heilbronn University, as well as the Academic Chair of HUGS (Heilbronn University Graduate School).

The first week of the Study Tour was hosted by the Faculty of Mechanics and Electronics, the second week was focused on Family Business, while the third week was all about Global Business at HUGS. These programme points were organised by Mine Altunkas, Susanne Stetter, Dr. Ulrike Weingart and Fiona Oster.

Highlights of the Virtual Study Tour included internship offers for the students from the Chamber of Commerce partners in Delhi and Rio, and an invitation to an upcoming webinar by the head of the German-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Mr Erwes, on the topic of "Brazil: the most promising oil & gas market today".

The Virtual Study Tour concluded with the Student Conference on 15th June 2021, where the participating students from the elective "Intercultural Study Week" presented their previously prepared presentations. The lectures included the corona effects on various topics such as e- Mobility, Industry 4.0, CO2 neutrality, tourism or working in virtual or hybrid form.

The team comprising Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ott, Prof. Dr. Dillerup, Mine Altunkas (Faculty of Mechanics and Electronics, International Coordinator for the International Study Pogrammes), Susanne Stetter (HUGS, International Coordinator), Dr. Ulrike Weingart (HUGS, Project Manager for the Centre for Family Business) and Fiona Oster (HUGS, Lecturer for Innovation Management, Entrepreneurship, Global Business and Business Strategy) are proud that the Virtual Study Tour was a success, despite several challenges faced during the tour.

Guest speakers of the Virtual Study Tour 2021:

Herr Cheng Yee Low
Associate Professor at Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UHTM), Malaysia

Herr Ahmed Abd El-Aziz
Professor at Faculty of Engineering and Materials Science, German University Cairo (GUC), Egypt

Frau Dr. Minh Hanh Le
Lecturer and researcher at Faculty of Economics and Management, Vietnamese German University (VGU), Vietnam

Herr Oliver Mirza
MD & CEO, Dr. Oetker, Indian Subcontinent, India

Herr August Rauen
Syndikus Tax Advisor, WITTENSTEIN SE, Igersheim-Harthausen, Germany

Herr Matthias Schepp
Chairman of the Management Board of the German-Russian Chamber of Commerce, Moscow, Russia

Frau Sonia Prashar
Deputy Director General, Indo-German Chamber of Commerce, New Delhi, India

Herr Hanno Erwes
Executive Director, German-Brazilian Chamber of Industry & Commerce, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Herr Deepankar Tiwari
Investor/ MD Area9 Lyceum India SA, Business Partner Zoomcar Inc, Board Member ETO Motors/ Ex Uber/ Ex Tata Sons, India