The Tandem Programme at FH JOANNEUM brings together people from different cultures and different languages since October 2006. The aim of Tandem partnerships is to facilitate language, experience and cultural exchange. Since 2021, FH JOANNEUM staff have also had the opportunity to take part in the Tandem4Staff program and gain informal intercultural knowledge. Let’s participate and get together!
Our Tandem Programme is designed to offer all students the opportunity to participate in a recognised intercultural programme (2 ECTS) in a relaxed and exciting atmosphere.
For example, the Tandem Certificate can be credited towards the ISC (Intercultural Skills Certificate).
In order to obtain the Tandem Certificate from FH JOANNEUM Graz, you need to be an (exchange) student at FH JOANNEUM and demonstrate that you have completed activities from the four Tandem Modules. The four modules represent different skills in an intercultural and linguistic context and should be completed during one semester – the Tandem partnership can only be started at the beginning of the semester. Iit is not possible to start during a semester!
It is therefore advisable to familiarise yourself with the criteria and requirements before the semester begins.
Participation in the Tandem Programme is binding from the point of allocation of the Tandem partners which takes place during the first two weeks of the respective semester.
Participation in certain sessions is mandatory as part of the Tandem Programme. The activities available can be freely selected in consultation with the Tandem partner.
Activities: Organize 5 individual meetings with your partner in person outside or online (each one at least 2 hours):
Must be arranged on an individual basis with your Tandem partner. Whether a coffee in the afternoon sunshine, a walk along a river, a sports course or a concert in the evening – it’s up to the Tandem partners to decide how to organize the 5 individual meetings.
Evidence: Objective form
Activities: Attend 4 evenings of the programme “Cultural Diversity at FH JOANNEUM” with your partner.
Evidence:
1. Participation: proof of attendance: A picture of every Cultural Diversity evening you participated in (photo of both of you). 4 events = 4 photos
2. Conclusion: Discuss the following questions with your partner and write a SUMMARY with your partner reflecting on the Cultural Diversity Evenings:
Tell about the impressions and experiences of our international students in Austria
Tell about 3 personal impressions/conclusions of you and your partner at the Cultural Diversity Evenings
Why is it very important to submerge in other cultures?
a. What are your personal benefits (both partners)?
b. Which other options does FH JOANNEUM offer you to get to know other cultures and perceptions?
• in Graz/Kapfenberg/BGB (internationalization at home)
• and abroad? Which options do degree seeking students at FH JOANNEUM have?
Total text lengh: word format, 1 page, 12 pt, Calibri, line spacing: 1
Activities:
Select 4 events organized by the International Office and participate with your partner. Events offered during the winter semester can be found below in the attached event calendars for each location.
Evidence:
Evidence:
Write a short summary according to the following criteria:
Step 1: Tandem Closing presentation
Just before the end of the semester, there will be a final ‘official’ goodbye between you and your Tandem partner and all the other Tandem partnerships. During this final meeting, all of the Tandem partnerships will discuss their time together with a Power Point presentation (5-10 minutes length) and a short video (30-60 seconds).
The Power Point presentation can be structured as follows:
The short video should include:
Date for your presentation: 27/28 JANUARY 2025 (tba) in KAPFENBERG / 28 JANUARY 2025 (tba) in BAD GLEICHENBERG / 30 JANUARY 2025 (tba) in GRAZ
Step 2: Tandem final report
The final report contains the following documents:
Deadline for sending us the documents of your final report:
31 JANUARY 2025
For Campus Graz: tandem@fh-joanneum.at
For Campus Kapfenberg: silke.glatzer@fh-joanneum.at
For Campus Bad Gleichenberg: sophie.strohmaier@fh-joanneum.at
Tandem cooking at FH JOANNEUM as best practice project: Since 2013 tandem cooking evenings are organized by Department for International Relations at FH JOANNEUM. The first Tandem Cookbook published in May 2015 won the ERASMUS+ Award 2015 presented by the National Agency for Lifelong Learning. The cookbook was one of three award winning projects in the category “Higher Education“. The newest Tandem Cookbook was published in summer 2017 and is focused on tandem recipes realised by international students at the campus Kapfenberg! You can get our Cookbooks in all International Offices at all three locations!
Analogous to the Tandem Program for students, the Tandem4Staff is intended to promote the cultural, experience and language exchange of our employees. To this end, employees with an Austrian cultural background meet with colleagues of international origin.
The language of communication for the tandem meetings is determined by the tandem partners themselves and can be German or any other language
Both tandem partners are employees of FH JOANNEUM and have an Austrian or international cultural background
Members of external partner associations, consisting mainly of expatriates from various countries around the world, form tandem pairs with FH JOANNEUM colleagues in order to practice foreign languages or German and exchange views on cultural topics.
At FH JOANNEUM, refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine and other countries attend language courses, work or are integrated into various projects. The tandem gives the opportunity to talk to a person with a refugee background at eye level and break down barriers.
Photo: Marlene Loidl and Lohiya Sathishkumar
Tandem4staff meeting
Interested staff register at the International Office and are connected to tandem pairs by the International Office of FH JOANNEUM. The International Office presents the tandem program in detail to the tandem partners and offers to attend the first tandem meeting together with the pair. Further tandem meetings are arranged by the tandem pairs themselves.
The tandem partners meet at least 8 times. Three of the eight meetings can be the joint visit of an intercultural event offered by the International Office (see point b. below). At least 5 meetings should be individual meetings.
Individual meetings are arranged and held in person by the tandem partners. Meet for language learning, a walk or a visit to a coffee house, see a museum together or arrange a joint cooking evening where you try out recipes from your home culture. Meetings should last at least 1 ½ hours.
A minimum of 5 individual meetings must be completed for the ISC4Staff.
Required proof: Write a short summary of your meeting into your intercultural learning log together with your partner and make a photo of the two of you after each meeting.
Attend one or more evenings of the program “Cultural Diversity at FH JOANNEUM” together with your tandem partner or participate in one of the intercultural events organized by the International Office, which are also offered for the tandem programme of students.
These are the intercultural game “Diversophy”, Cultural Evenings, Tandem Cooking, Pub Quiz….
Required proof: Participation and joint summary of your aha-moments according to the given guideline.
If you are interested in the Tandem4Staff, please contact the International Relations Office at international@fh-joanneum.at.
The Tandem4Staff is completed in your free time.
TIP: Non-teaching staff of FH JOANNEUM can have the Tandem Program for Staff credited as a competence module of the Intercultural Skills Certificates for Staff (ISC4Staff).
