I have been in Graz for over a year now, working and studying at the Pädagogische Hochschule Steiermark. During this stay I have gained a lot of valuable experience that I will use in the future.

I would like to share my story about participating in Erasmus+.

This internship provided a unique opportunity to work in a multicultural environment and to support staff and international students. In this report I would like to outline the main activities, responsibilities, challenges and lessons learnt during the internship.

My internship goals

My main goals throughout the training period were not only to support my team, but also to facilitate our collaboration. During my stay I developed professional skills in administration, communication and cultural competence.

My roles in the International Office

• Throughout my time here, I have been given various responsibilities, such as student support services.
• I tried my best to help students with any questions they might have. I was responsible for communication between students and things from the International Office. I was in charge of applications and websites that students work on (such as Teams, Moodle ect).
• I helped students to register on different platforms (Ph-Online, Teams, Moddle and eTwinning platform). 
• Event coordination. 
• During my stay we had a lot of events, but one event was the most unforgettable for me – it was the International Week (Come2 Graz). It was a whole week of visits from people from different parts of the world. I helped not only my colleagues, but also international teachers. There were also a lot of workshops in which I actively participated. 
• Posting articles.
• One of my tasks was also to post on the Erasmus+ Journal articles about updates and news from OeAD and reports from the students who were abroad and want to share their feelings and thoughts about the Erasmus+ programme. 

The challenges

I think some difficulties at work are usually things. It is a tool for our personal growth. Of course, I faced some challenges during my time in the office. 

The first difficulty was adapting to the needs and expectations of students and staff from different cultural backgrounds, which required patience and awareness. 

The second challenge was the language barrier. Communicating effectively with non-native English speakers required creativity and understanding. However, with time I was able to overcome this barrier. 

The third was time management. In the beginning it was a bit difficult to balance multiple tasks, especially at peak times like orientation weeks, but it was challenging but rewarding. 

Skills knowledge competences acquired

Some skills I have developed during my stay: 

• I know how to communicate orally and in writing with international students, colleagues and partners. 
• I am now more aware of multicultural cooperation and teamwork. 
• By assisting with events, I have gained management skills, including planning and execution. 
• Time management: I understand how to structure tasks in order to get everything done on time. 
• Problem solving
• Adaptability 

Knowledge what i have got during work:

• Understanding of international exchange procedures and logistics. 
• Knowledge of global partner institutions and intercultural communication. 
• Familiarity with event planning and general administrative tasks.  

Competences I acquired during the internship:

• Competence in building relationships
• Organisational skills in planning and execution. 

Reflection

The International Office internship was a transformative experience that broadened both my professional skills and personal worldview. It provided a platform to apply academic knowledge in a real-world setting, interact with diverse individuals, and contribute to the global mission of the institution.

The skills and lessons learned during this internship will undoubtedly benefit my future career, especially in roles involving international collaboration and multicultural environments.

I’m so grateful to have had the chance to intern at the International Office! It’s been such a wonderful experience, both professionally and personally.

I’m so grateful to you all for giving me such important jobs to do and for helping me every step of the way. I loved working with the international team! It was a great chance for me to learn new skills and to see how different cultures work together. Everyone in the team was so kind and encouraging, and they were really dedicated to their work. It was a truly special experience. I learned so much from working with such talented professionals and I’m so excited to use what I’ve learned in my career.

Photo is taken by me.

Photo is taken by me. Visit Ukrainian students. Winter semester 2023/2024.

Photo is taken by me. Welcome weekend, winter semester 2023/2024, Bruk an den Mur.

Photo is taken by me. Students after class, winter semester 2023/2024.

Photo is taken by me. Final presentation, wintersemester 2023/2024. Katerina, Iryna and Leni.

Photo is taken by me. Final presentation, wintersemester 2023/2024.

Photo is taken by me. Welcome weekend, summer semester 2024, Judenburg.

Photo is taken by me. Final presentation, summer semester 2024, Open days at Pädagogische Hochschule Steirmark.

Photo is taken by me. Final presentation, summer semester 2024, Open days at Pädagogische Hochschule Steirmark.

Photo is taken by me. Final presentation, summer semester 2024.

Photo is taken by me. International Week “Come2 Graz”, summer semester 2024.

Photo is taken by me. Winter semester 2024/2025. Welcome weekend in Stubenberg.

Phonon is taken by me. Winter semeter 2024/2025. Activities with Haas-Vogl Heiko.