Intercultural skills a Key to Success
The study was conducted by the PRIME Networking ( International Association whose objective is the promotion of studies, research and trainings) members and primarily focused on one of their activities, the Euroweek Conference, an international contest where student teams from the network are invited to present a research project on a defined theme. Both InduTec, a non-profit organization resulting from the association of four Engineering Institutes of the Brussels Region (ECAM, ISIB, Institut Meurice and Erasmushogeschool) and ISIB took part in this Conference as PRIME Networking members. The InterCareer study was conducted in 12 different countries among 3 different target groups: -future ‘Euroweekers’: students working on a project to be presented at the Euroweek Conference -alumni ‘Euroweekers’ having participated in the Conferenc -employers and their perception of the impact of such an experience on a professional career. The decision to take part in such a contest highlights a specific motivation shared by these students, as the study shows that most of the students who take part in such events wish to work in an international environment. The comparative analysis of the expectations of the participants and the perception of the real impact by the alumni shows the following results. 65,2% of future Euroweekers and 68,7% of alumni think that the most important impact of the event on their professional development is the international teamwork experience. This conclusion is closely related to the fact that both students and alumni state that good relationships within the team are of utmost importance. According to both groups, the second most important factor is the improvement of their language skills.Moreover 60,6% of the alumni declare that the Euroweek experience has encouraged them to take part in other international events (such as Erasmus). For these Euroweekers some criteria such as the participation in multicultural teamwork and the capacity of adaptation and mobility have influenced their professional development more than other criteria. As far as the employers are concerned, their perception of the Euroweek is very similar to the one of the alumni : about 85% of them believe that short-term international events have a great influence on language skills as well as on multicultural teamwork. The 3 target groups agree that the key success factors, both for the Euroweek experience and for the professional career, are language skills and communicative skills required for multicultural teamwork. The participation in short-term academic events such as the Euroweek is considered an added value that will facilitate the career of a young graduate, especially in enterprises operating in an international environment.
Countries
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia, United Kingdom