Interview with Chiara Krüsi and Dimitri Loringett about their International staff training week at the Technische Universität Dresden

How long have you been working at USI and what is your position?

Chiara: “I have been working at USI for 9 years now. I am the coordinator for three Master programs: Master in Corporate Communication, Master in Marketing, Master in Management.”

Dimitri: “I’ve been at USI since September 2006. After working as admin- istrative assistant at the Institute of Finance, I now work part time at the Institute of Economics as programme manager for the Master PMP and part time at the Media and Communications Service, where I do content editing and media relations.”

How did you learn about the staff mobility programmes?

Chiara: “The International Relations office sent an e-mail with the differ- ent options for staff mobility. In addition, I got to know this opportunity from some of my colleagues who attended a staff mobility program in the past years.”

Dimitri: “From our International Office, Ms Arianna Imberti Dosi.”

Why have you decided to take advantage of this opportunity?

Chiara: “First of all I was interested in the topics proposed: especially “needs and expectations of international incoming students” and “inter- nationalization strategies of a higher education institution”. In addition I was very keen about going abroad for such an experience and the chance to meet new people and learn new points of view. Last but not least, the city where it took place, Dresden, is very attractive for its history.”

Dimitri: “I have wanted to participate for a few years now, because I like to meet other people from other countries and, most importantly, I wanted to learn more about how other universities work and what is their approach to common organizational issues.”

What did you learn and what would you implement in your work?

Chiara: “During the week we have seen many different aspects related to a higher education institution, especially regarding internationalization. And we had the chance to hear the strengths and weakness both from TU Dres- den and from all other participants; discovering that more or less, bigger or smaller institutions, have to deal with similar issues. It was also inspiring to learn the way some problems have been solved. For the moment I just look at issues in my daily job from a different perspective and in a way, I feel more sensitive to certain aspects. But I’ll hope to implement very soon what I have learned.”

Dimitri: “I was in a specialist group that discussed corporate identity,which is a hot topic here at USI. I gathered several ideas that will certainly be useful for the initiatives we are currently working on here at USI.”

Would you recommend your colleagues to do a similar experience, and why?

Chiara: “Yes, I definitely would highly recommend everybody to do a simi- lar experience! I have to say that the whole week has been perfectly organ- ized and everything proposed - focus groups, visits, activities – were very interesting. Mostly also because the people involved were proud to show their work, their campus, their city! And this I found is very inspiring. Such an experience gives the chance to meet other people/colleagues to exchange ideas and information, as well as to visit a very beautiful city and learn about its culture, in a way you don’t do every day.”

Dimitri: “Absolutely! First, there is no better way to broaden one’s own perspectives by facing other people from other countries and cultures, especially in a foreign land. The idea of mobility is to share ideas and views and, I can’t deny it, to have a good time and a week off from work!”

The organising team at TU Dresden prepared a short film about the International Staff week that can be watched here: staff week video.