Bearers of Internationalisation

Internationalisation
creates room for space
Christoph Hofrichter and Birgit Hernády
Birgit Hernády: Head of department International Relations
Christoph Hofrichter: in charge of German as Foreign Language and PR for the department International Relations
FH Joanneum, Graz, Austria

Auniversity lives for its students. However, thatMaria João Negrão designed a guidance system which takes

doesn’t necessarily mean that the university creates

account of the target groups and makes the service areas ofsufficient space for students to study in a pleasantthe International Relations department completely transpa-atmosphere, to relax or express their creativity.

Corridor with arrows

rent. Starting on the ground floor of the campus building, theroute to the department is clearly indicated with eye-catching

2. “I’m (SOMEWHERE) DIFFERENT”: DESIGNING ROOMS

in personality “, she says. What she enjoyed most about thisWhen it comes to internationalisation, “visualising” andarrows at staircases and on the floor. And if the stairs are too

Leah Emery from Australia, a graduate of the Communica-project was developing the concept as she is always keen to“raising awareness” play a vital role, but cannot be achieved

tiring, an arrow in the lift also indicates the floor which hous-tion, Media, Sound and Interaction Design programme, has

get to the heart of the matter, which can often be something

without sufficient physical space. It starts on arrival and ends

es the department’s two offices.

designed a series of posters for the International Relations

that is not immediately obvious or visible. The realisation ofdepartment with the aim of encouraging students to spend

the concept of using landmarks and people made up of trian-when the final goodbyes are said. Between these points lie
almost endless opportunities for students to interact. In theThe 12 m² world map is an eye-catching feature and is marked

a semester abroad as part of an internship or study course. It

gles proved challenging both for her and for her computer, butsummer of 2014 the department of International Relations

with flags showing which exchange and international students

is designed to motivate students to spread their wings, leave

she’s very pleased with the results. “For me as a print design-

began its first efforts to reorganise its premises for future andare currently visiting FH JOANNEUM and which FH students

their comfort zone and discover new cultural and learninger, with any new project the challenge always lies in getting

current students, not only to make them more attractive but

have opted to undertake a study semester or internship abroad.

environments. The poster campaign featuring the slogan

content and ideas across on paper and making people think”,“Sieh dich (wo) anders” (picture yourself somewhere else / see

explains Leah Emery.

to better meet their needs. This “concept of spaces” will continue.

Newly arrived students from abroad also paint their country

yourself differently) has an attractive design that addresses

flags in coloured chalk on “panels” on the walls, together withthe cultural aspect of gaining experience abroad – namely

greetings in their own language. This raises awareness of thethe merging of one’s own culture with what is initially very

3. SPACES FOR MEETING AND LEARNING

1. Find and get found: greeting rooms

international nature of the student body, as well as generatingmuch a foreign culture – and also focuses on the result,

When knowledge flows, it probably looks like the art installa-

What use is the best service and best possible support if it isa feeling of welcome.

namely identification with the other culture. Leah Emerytion by Brian Luque Marcos, a graduate of the Exhibition De-

not easy for people to find? This problem motivated the In-on her poster designs: “International students often say thatsign programme. The installation on the 3rd floor of the FH

ternational Relations department at FH JOANNEUM Graz inWe help students prepare for a stay abroad or in Austria boththe biggest benefit of their semester abroad is a better un-JOANNEUM Graz campus building was opened in June 2015

summer 2014 to ask Maria João Negrão, now a graduate of theon a personal and an administrative level. This route may

derstanding of the world and of themselves.” Leah herself

and is a real head turner. Formerly a bare and clinical-looking

Exhibition Design programme, to devise a navigation system:

sometimes be more difficult but usually succeeds in changing

is from Australia and spent a semester at FH JOANNEUM

room, this is now a warm and welcoming place to meet. Thethe aim was to guide people to the department and prepare

their world views and opening up new perspectives for their

before moving permanently to Graz to start her Master’s de-installation is an ode to the acquisition and networking ofthem for the opportunities which lie ahead.

studies and careers.

gree. “The poster campaign builds on this profound change

knowledge in a modern and dynamic university. The instal-Page 22

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Birgit Hernády, Brian Luque Marcos (designer of the installation "Let your knowledge flow") and Christoph Hofrichterlation sees itself as a plea for knowledge in general as well as

4. SPACE FOR DIVERSITY

making direct reference to everyday teaching and practice at

During the spring of 2014 Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” sang

FH JOANNEUM: like in the work of art, areas of knowledgeout on radios and YouTube channels. The song perfectly ex-

too overlap and enrich one another. Exchange and coopera-

pressed the mood that students and employees can spreadtion between different disciplines are essential these days totogether in an intercultural and academic university environ-ensure that design, management, engineering and health arement, which makes FH JOANNEUM what it is. In total overno longer opposites, but act as mutually inspiring worlds of200 incoming and regular students, together with employ-knowledge. It is also an indirect indication to the exchange

ees across all departments and programmes at all three FH

of intercultural knowledge which is on the increase at FH

JOANNEUM campuses, took part in the video project run by,

JOANNEUM: in 2014/15, FH JOANNEUM has 424 international

and with, students. students (12% of the total number of students) from over 40countries and each year, over 230 exchange students spend

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAYK6EINk5U

their semester abroad at FH JOANNEUM in Graz, Kapfenberg
and Bad Gleichenberg. Both groups are an enormous enrich-Photos: Christoph Hofrichterment for students, teachers and staff.

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