Every year, Prof James Eckert, Ph.D., from Western Michigan University (USA) visits Paderborn University. This is now the 13th year he has held his popular Bachelor's course "Global Business Essentials" at the Faculty of Business Administration and Economics.
But Professor Eckert does not travel alone from Michigan. Every year, he brings a group of American students with him who are keen to get to know Germany and its culture and university landscape. The students spend a whole month in Germany. In addition to the two-week stay in Paderborn, during which the students go to university as normal and get to know the campus, the programme also includes Hamburg, Berlin, Wolfsburg and Munich, for example.
The aim of Professor Eckert's trip is to give his students an insight into international business through fun, games and variety. In particular, his "Global Business Essentials" course, which he offers every summer semester, aims to provide a comprehensive insight into dealing with other cultures in the business world. In addition to communication skills and negotiation techniques, students also learn how to work in a team and develop leadership qualities. Students from all over the world are welcome on his course to promote and celebrate the maximum level of multiculturalism.
In addition to his big trip to Germany in the summer, Professor Eckert also comes to Paderborn in the winter for his one-week Master's block course "Relationship Driven Selling".
Professor Eckert's courses at Paderborn University and his tour of Germany are an excellent example of how important and beneficial international experience is during a degree programme. Both students and lecturers can learn something for life through courses such as "Global Business Essentials" or "Relationship Driven Selling".
