General information

In an increasingly heterogeneous work and research environment, intercultural skills are vital. BOKU students who have gained experience in intercultural activities (e.g. studies or internship abroad, working as a buddy, etc.) can apply for the Intercultural Skills Award at BOKU-International Relations. This award enables BOKU students the opportunity to improve their CV and be at an advantage for future job applications. The laureates will also be honoured at the BOKU Day for Teaching and Learning - BOKU Tag der Lehre und des Lernens. SAVE THE DATE: 11 May 2022.

Areas of competence & criteria

AREAS OF COMPETENCE PROOF

Area of competence 1
International experience related to the study programme

Students expand their professional competence in a foreign language and a new cultural environment and are able to experience their field of study from a different perspective.

This includes the participation in one of the following BOKU mobility programmes (e.g. Erasmus+, CEEPUS, Joint Study, KUWI, etc.):

  • Study abroad (at least 2 months)
  • Research stay abroad (at least 2 months full-time)
  • Internship abroad (at least 2 months full-time)
 

 

  • Confirmation of stay and experience report

 

Area of competence 2
Foreign languages

Students improve their communication skills needed in an international work or research environment.

These include:

  • BOKU language course (at least 1 semester or intensive course)
  • Tandem language course (at least 1 semester)
  • Language course at a partner university as part of a BOKU mobility programme (at least 1 semester or intensive course)
 		  

  • Transcript of records or

  • Tandem certificate
 

Area of competence 3
Courses on intercultural competence

Students address intercultural topics on a theoretical level and acquire strategies for successful interaction in an international context.

This includes (at least 2 ECTS):

  • BOKU lecture 120999
    Intercultural competence - Changing perspectives in a diverse (working) environment
  • BOKU lecture 735336
    Intercultural communication
  • BOKU lecture 120303
    Summer/winter school: Intercultural training for the Danube region and regional aspects in agriculture and food production
  • BOKU lecture 120998
    Security training for studying and field research abroad - raising awareness for critical and emergency situations
  • Other relevant BOKU courses
  • Intercultural courses of partner universities (exchange via BOKU mobility programme as part of a BOKU study programme)
 		  
  • Course certificate/ transcript of records (for non-BOKU courses additional short course description required)
 

Area of competence 4
Intercultural involvement

Students put their intercultural skills into practice, thereby expanding their international network and contributing to the internationalization of BOKU.

These include:

  • Participation in the BOKU buddy programme (at least 1 semester) & activity as "Ambassador - BOKU goes international" (participation in a BOKU-IR event incl. a presentation (e.g. experience report about the stay abroad) & at least 3 social media postings about the experiences abroad)
  • Engagement in an international student organization (AIESEC, IAAS, IAESTE, ESN, ELSA, ÖH Department for International Affairs, ÖH- Department for Foreign Students or similar for at least 1 semester)
 		  
  • Confirmation of BOKU-IR about the Ambassador activities & Buddy confirmation or
  • Official confirmation of commitment from the respective student organization
 

Required proof

To receive this award, students must prove knowledge and/or experience in the following 4 fields of competence (see also table fields of competence & criteria):

  • International experience related to the study programme
  • Foreign languages
  • Courses on intercultural competence
  • Intercultural involvement

At least one criterion must be fulfilled per field of competence.

Please send all evidence collected in one PDF by e-mail or hand in copies directly to the office. BOKU-International Relations will check the fulfillment of the criteria and issue the award certificate. Applications are continuously possible.

Contact

University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU)
BOKU-International Relations
Peter Jordan Strasse 82a
1190 Vienna

Nicole Fohringer / Gudrun Reisinger
Tel.: +43 1 47654 / 32002 or 32013
Email: interculturalskillsaward(at)boku.ac.at