Past events
> Welcome Day for incoming scholars in Vienna
On Thursday March 29 the third welcome event for incoming scholars took place at the OeAD house in Vienna. This time the welcome was combined with an AlumniTalk with Helen Nakimbugwe. More than 70 persons joined from more than 30 nations.
Ulrich Hörmann, head of the Department of Finances, welcomed the new scholars in Vienna and gave a short presentation about the OeAD and its broad activities and tasks. Katharina Engel introduced the Centre for International Cooperation and Mobility - ICM and its structure as well as different scholarship programmes. Then Martina Rahberger and Katrin Messner gave relevant and practical tipps for our scholars and announced the future events and excursions.
After a short break Elke Stinnig introduced Helen Nakimbugwe to the audience. Helen is kind of a "double" Alumna as she has done both her Masters and her Doctorate study in Austria with a scholarship administered by the OeAD.
Today she is also member of the steering commitee of the appear programme.
In her impressing speech and presentation Helen gave insight into her situation as young student in Austria and her career after finishing her studies. Overcoming all kinds of obstacles and suffering with strong optimism and faith she is nowadays a leading staff member at the National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Databank – NAGRC&DB in Uganda.
Apart from having good mentors and friends she mentioned self discipline and the capacity to put priorities as keys for a successful personal and professional development. Sharing all kinds of things (knowledge, time, material things) without looking at profit was another element leading to a "rich and happy" life. Helen showed some of her very many different activities - from establishing a women network in Uganda, over university lectureship through private Austrian Ugandan social activities. She encouraged everybody to use the stay in Austria not only for pursuing the scheduled study project but to interact on a broad level beyond disciplines and cultures in order to find new friends and find new ideas.
The people were grateful for this inspiring presentation and thanked her with a long applause (click here for more information on Helen's speech).
There were many interesting discussions and a lot of laughter at the buffet. We could have stayed even longer and are looking forward to more interesting events.
> Christmas Party organized by the ICM
On Dec 23rd more than 40 students joined the Christmas Party organized by the ICM. As this was the very first Christmas party at the new OeAD House - we took the chance to make some group Photos, too.
All scholars had been invited to bring typical and traditional food of their region, so that everybody could get a good impression about the different tastes and traditions worldwide. And really, many dedicated scholarship holders brought food from Ethiopia, Ukraine, Russia, Mexico and Thailand. Austrian Cookies and the traditional "Punsch" were offered, too, representing the Austrian culinary tradition of this season.
The common dinner was followed by a short performance of three traditional Austrian Christmas songs performed by Katharina Engel (ICM) and her daughter. The Ethiopian students also presented three typical Ethiopian Christmas songs.
Then the real party started when – after having overcome technical problems – the "disco" opened. Many scholars danced and celebrated enthusiastically . Apart from eating, listening and dancing there was sufficient time to get to know each other. We are looking forward to use the new OeAD house for similar events. Ideas and initiatives may be posted to info4scholars@oead.at.
> Welcome Day for Incoming Scholars in Vienna
On Oct. 20, the second Welcome Day at the new OeAD House took place. Aim of this event was to provide the new incoming scholars with relevant information and to give them an opportunity get to know each other while enjoying some refreshments.
The new scholarship holders were welcomed by Lydia Skarits, deputy head of the Centre for International Cooperation and Mobility (ICM) of the OeAD. Lydia gave a short presentation about the OeAD and its different tasks.
Doris Zwettler, head of the Regional Office Vienna, together with her colleague Martina Rahberger, presented the website of the OeAD Regional Office where all necessary information can be found and announced future excursions and events for scholars in Vienna.
Christine Ganster from the National Agency for Lifelong Learning within the OeAD and part of a new OeAD internal project team called "You are in the right place...." presented the OeAD – photo project and invited everybody to participate in the competition for a future photo exhibition in the conference rooms of the OeAD-house in Vienna. The topic is the international students’ view of Vienna.
Many scholars use the offers of the OeAD Housing office. Jacqueline Hoegl gave a short presentation about OeAD Housing, which is a 100% subsidary of the OeAD that provides accommodation to more than 10,000 persons per year.
During a study or research stay personal problems may occur, too. Knowing where to find help is important – apart from the support of the OEAD staff - Julia Hefler from the student Psychological Counselling Service for Students (PBS Wien) presented her institution and its broad scope of activities. All OeAD scholars may seek support - their offer is free and confidential, if suffering study problems or psychosocial problems during the course of their studies. Julia also mentioned which symptoms or feelings should be alarming to ask for professional help. Further information can be found on their website: www.studentenberatung.at
As there were no further questions from the side of the audience, Katharina Engel, co – organizer of the Welcome Day, presented the different scholarship programs and introduced other parts of the OeAD website (Grants Database, events4scholars). Around six o’clock the buffet was opened and participants took the chance to get to know each other. There were interesting discussions and chats until nearly 9 p.m.
We are looking forward to further interesting events. Invitations will be sent through e-mail.
> Politico-economic excursion to voestalpine & daytrip to Melk and the Wachau valley
Politico-economic excursion to voestalpine on May 24th, 2011
In the framework of its support programme the Regional OeAD Office Linz invited the scholars of Linz to a politico-economic excursion to voestalpine on May 24th, 2011. In the course of this excursion the participants had the opportunity the get to know one of the most important industrial enterprises at close range. After an informative guided tour through the exhibition “Steel World” the scholars were particularly fascinated by the subsequent tour through the plant where they were able to experience the steelmaking processes at the furnace, the steel-mill and the automated production of car parts firsthand.
Daytrip to Melk and the Wachau valley on June 17th, 2011
On June 17th, 2011 the Regional OeAD Office Linz organised a daytrip to Melk and the Wachau valley for the scholars of Linz. After a guided tour through the Monastery of Melk with its unique library the scholars could experience the Wachau valley by boat on the Danube. The landscape, which is characterised by vineyards and fruit trees, made a lasting impression of the Austrian nature and culture on the participants. This impression was rounded off culinary by a collective lunch with specialities of the Wachau valley.
> Excursion to Hellbrunn (Salzburg): Palace, trick fountains and palace gardens
On May 12th, 2011 the Regional OeAD Office Salzburg made an excursion to Hellbrunn (Salzburg) with 15 scholars and their families. In wonderful and hot weather the 21 participants first visited the trick fountains. The hidden fountains, which eject water at unexpected moments and also serve for cooling, aroused great interest and enthusiasm.
Afterwards the palace was visited. Visitors were informed about the history of the palace, its art and its culture as well as about the way of life and interests of the archbishops, which are reflected in the architecture, the interior design and the works of art of the palace.
After visiting the palace gardens, which are accessible to the public, and the manifold impressions we sat down for a picnic in the palace gardens. For this collective meal, which rounded off the interesting and very eventful morning, the participants exchanged both impressions and the food and drinks which each of them brought along.
The participating OeAD scholars of Salzburg (from Pakistan, Asia, Eastern Europe and Palestine) were extremely enthusiastic and are very much looking forward to future excursions.
> Excursion to the exhibition Conquer – Discover - Experience the land of the Roman
On May, 18, upon the invitation of the OeAD Regional Office Vienna, 25 scholarship holders made an excursion to the exhibition "Conquer – Discover - Experience the land of the Roman"“ in the Lower Austrian city of Carnuntum. On this wonderful sunny early summer day, they first visited the open-air museum in Petronell-Carnuntum, where the public bath house of the old Romans was of special interest (see photo).
After visiting the Museum Carnuntum in Deutsch Altenburg, the excursion continued to the so called "Cultural Factory" in Hainburg near the river Danube, where all participants were taken on a fascinating "time travel – tour" and gained insight into the world of conquerors and the time of the exploration from the early history until today.
In the end of this informative but also exhausting excursion the scholars were invited for local dinner (wine, cheese, and meat) at a small "Heurigen" (wine tavern) in Prellenkirchen. The scholars, mainly from Middle and Eastern Europe but also from Egypt and Thailand, were amazed by this day and are looking forward to further events.
Doris Zwettler
> Europass Workshop for Incoming Scholars
Show what you‘re capable of!
On April 6th 2011 another event for Viennese Incoming scholars (events4scholars) took place at the new OeAD house.
About 40 scholars from 23 different countries participated in a workshop jointly organised by the Centre for International Cooperation & Mobility and the Europass Center (National Agency for Lifelong Learning), two operating departments of the OeAD.
During the workshop the scholars got to know the Austrian Educational System. Magdalena Burtscher from the National Europass Centre gave a brief introduction about the “Bologna” Process and the current European situation in the field of Higher Education.
After having watched the informative film about EUROPASS and its enclosures the students were working and discussing in small groups on different issues:
- How to present language skills with the language passport
- What kind of organizational skills one may get whilst exercising his/her hobbies or doing voluntary services
- Are there country-specific characteristics regarding details of a CV?
After the workshop everybody enjoyed good Austrian wine and delicous snacks.
We are looking forward to have similar interesting events in the near future!
> Impressions Europass Workshop
> Welcome Day at the new OeAD house
On March 10th, the ICM - Centre for International Cooperation & Mobility, invited all scholars from Vienna to a Welcome Day at the new OeAD house and to a lecture "A concise history of Austria".
Dr. Irene Müller, head of the ICM, gave a short introduction speech and welcomed all international scholars. Afterwards an interesting lecture about the history, art and culture of Austria followed. Furthermore, all new scholars had the opportunity to get to know each other.
> Weiterbildungsveranstaltung für Mondi-Stipendiat/innen
Im Oktober 2009 veranstaltete die Mondi Austria Privatstiftung eine Veranstaltung mit allen Stipendiat/innen im Mondi-Hauptgebäude. Anlässlich dieses Treffens wurde u.a. die HR-Abteilung von Mondi vorgestellt. Die Stipendiat/innen zeigten großes Interesse an den Fortbildungsangeboten von Mondi.
The Mondi Academy führte daher im März 2010 einen speziell für die Zielgruppe der Stipendiat/innen maßgeschneiderten Workshop durch. Zu den Themen erfolgreich Bewerben und Präsentation und Projektmanagement wurden 15 Personen von den Mondi HR-Mitarbeiterinnen geschult.
Der OeAD war in die Planung und Vororganisation integriert, die Kosten wurden von The Mondi Academy getragen. Auswertungen zeigen, dass diese Veranstaltung sehr gut aufgenommen wurde.
Wir hoffen diese Zusammenarbeit mit The Mondi Academy auch im kommende Semester fortzusetzen.
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