Course Content and Goals

Course Content and Goals

The primary goal of this course is to introduce you to the course subject, International Project Management with its sub-components of Communication Media, Tools for International Project Management, Intercultural Conflicts/Challenges in an International Environment and Project Management.

The focus will enable you to subsequently participate in more advanced courses instructed in English and function successfully in projects involving an international dimension. This course will not only deepen your knowledge of the subject material in English, but provide you with the skills to succeed in virtual or traditional learning environments in related subjects. 

In addition, you will improve your abilities and interaction in facets of the English language including written, listening and reading comprehension. Revision and practice of major grammar points including vocabulary expansion tasks will help to improve your language skills in a given context. In certain cases, you will note that non-native speakers are interviewed or participate in audio or video discussions in which grammatical errors could occur. As these activities represent applied practise in Germany, the benefits of their experience clearly outweigh any of their grammatical errors. 

The structure of the course is divided into an introductory week, the 4 core modules (3 units/weeks per module), plus an in-class final exam. The final in-class exam is the only unit of the course which is planned not to be virtual.

The introductory week will provide you with an overview of the course and your course requirements. In order to be successful on the course weekly participation is necessary. You are given two weeks to complete the tasks of every unit. The deadline for submission can be found on the homepage. 

The modules are so designed to introduce you to the subject material in a logical order and similar structure throughout the course. Material learned in a prior module should support and advance your learning in subsequent modules. As each module will be similarly structured, it will be easy to navigate through the modules.

Course Content:

Module - Introduction

Unit 1 - Introduction

Module – Communication Across Borders

Unit 2 - E-Mail/Informal Writing

Unit 3 - Presentations

Unit 4 - Teleconferences/Telephoning 

Module – Tools for International Project Management

Unit 5 - Software Tools - inclusive project management collaborative software

Unit 6 - Rapid Prototyping

Unit 7 - 3-D Printing

Module – Communicating in an International Environment

Unit 8 - High and Low Context Cultures

Unit 9 - Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication

Unit 10 - Dealing with Intercultural Conflicts 

Module – Project Management

Unit 11 - Documentation (Reporting, Project Controlling etc.)

Unit 12 - Managing People

Unit 13 - Managing Across Boarders 

Module - Exam

Unit 14 - Final Exam