FH JOANNEUM University of Applied Sciences

Tandem4Staff - Intercultural exchange at eye level

Tandem4Staff promotes cultural, experiential, and language exchange among FH JOANNEUM staff members with Austrian and international backgrounds.

"In the dress of the other - a cultural change of perspective"

Objectives

The aim of Tandem4Staff is to actively promote intercultural interaction among FH JOANNEUM staff members, raise intercultural awareness, and structurally anchor “Internationalization at Home” (I@H). The program is open to all staff – academic and administrative, permanent or external – with Austrian or international cultural backgrounds. Each tandem pair consists of one person with an Austrian background and one with an international background. Regular personal meetings create space for language, cultural, or experiential exchange on equal footing. This strengthens social cohesion, supports new staff in settling into the university, and helps reduce intercultural barriers. Tandem4Staff reflects the strategic goals of FH JOANNEUM in promoting diversity, equal opportunities, and internationalization. It is part of the official staff development program and contributes to a lived culture of welcome. New international staff members are informed about the program during the onboarding process. Over time, the program has been expanded to include tandems with displaced persons (e.g., from Ukraine) to visibly embrace social responsibility and actively contribute to integration.

Background

Tandem4Staff was initiated in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic as a purely digital format to enable intercultural exchange among staff without the need for physical mobility. The idea originated in the International Relations Office, where it was developed and implemented. Due to the limited number of staff with international backgrounds, the target group was expanded: through cooperation with external associations in Graz that work with expatriates from around the world, diverse tandem constellations became possible. Since autumn 2022, the program has also included people with refugee backgrounds, especially participants in German language courses at FH JOANNEUM. For these individuals, the tandem provided a practical opportunity to apply their language skills. Conversely, staff members were able to reduce prejudice and practice social responsibility through personal interaction. Tandem4Staff is part of the official staff development program and is promoted through targeted communication via email, MS Teams, the website, and during the onboarding of new employees.

(Implemented) Activities

Interested personell register at the beginning of each semester with the International Relations Office, which matches tandem partners based on interests and availability. Each tandem meets at least eight times – with full flexibility regarding time, place, and activity. Activities include language practice, coffee meet-ups, museum visits, sports, cooking of recipes from the home country, or workplace tours. Three meetings may include intercultural events organized by the International Relations Office, such as “Cultural Evenings” or the game “Diversophy.” The remaining five are individual one-on-one meetings. After each meeting, participants reflect on their experiences in the “Intercultural Learning Log” or the reflection form for intercultural events. Photos serve as memories and documentation of the meetings. In this way, ongoing intercultural learning is recorded and consciously supported.

Results

Upon successful completion of all eight meetings, including submission of reflections and photos, participants receive an official Tandem Certificate from the university management in a celebratory setting. For general university staff enrolled in the “Intercultural Skills Certificate for Staff” (ISC4Staff), Tandem4Staff can be credited as one module. Feedback from participants shows that Tandem4Staff is a low-threshold, effective tool for fostering intercultural competence. It provides personal learning experiences, improves collegial interaction, and supports new staff in settling in socially. In the long term, the program contributes to the development of an open, diverse university culture and supports the implementation of the I@H strategy.

Lessons learned & transferability

One of the key insights was that the “chemistry” between tandem partners is crucial for success. In some cases, tandems ended early due to lack of time, relocation, or job change. Nonetheless, even few interactions enabled intercultural learning. Participants highly appreciate the flexible nature of the meetings, although this requires a strong sense of personal responsibility. More customized matching and additional support offerings could strengthen commitment and continuity. Tandem4Staff demonstrates that informal, personal exchange is a powerful tool for promoting diversity and intercultural understanding in the higher education context.

Happily presenting their Tandem4Staff Certificate

Further links