Author: Sebastian Benad

The first edition of the HR Spring School, an integral part of the newly introduced Blended Intensive Program (BIP) in International Business Communication, brought together students from all over the world and set new standards. In close cooperation with the Technical University of Liberec and the University of Opole, the participants experienced a week full of insights into challenges and practical solutions in the field of human resource management.

The week began with a warm welcome and a comprehensive introduction, followed by lively presentations from the participating universities. A "Management Game" on Monday afternoon encouraged participants to get to know each other and form international teams. Tuesday started with a keynote speech by Axel Krüger, who highlighted the HR challenges of Upper Lusatia and was flanked by a local company that gave specific insights into the regional skills shortage. The students then presented the results of their preparatory research in short pitches and took part in workshops on the Employee Value Proposition Canvas and other competencies and skills.

Wednesday was marked by a workshop on the creation of interview guidelines, which prepared the students for real interviews with HR managers from five Görlitz companies and institutions such as CASUS, the German Center for Astrophysics, SKAN, LiberTec and Europastadt Görlitz-Zgorzelec GmbH. These discussions provided the students with valuable insights into different HR strategies and challenges. On Thursday, the participants deepened their knowledge through further workshops in the Siemens Energy Coworking Space and gained practical insights during a visit to Siemens Energy's production facilities. The day ended with a lively intercultural evening that celebrated the cultural diversity of the participating nations with culinary delights and dancing.

The final day was dedicated to the students' final presentations, where they presented their interview results and thoughtful solutions from the perspective of young employees. The event concluded with a reflection on the entire program and an official farewell ceremony that acknowledged the strong sense of community and the insights gained during the week.

The HR Spring School proved to be an excellent platform for the application of theoretical knowledge in real-life scenarios and contributed significantly to the students' academic and personal development. The perfect symbiosis of theory and practice, complemented by international cooperation, optimally prepared the students for the challenges of a globalized working world and inspired them to shape their careers with enthusiasm and a deep understanding of intercultural dynamics.