Celle Castle Talk: Intercultural competence

On 21 February 2013, NiedersachsenMetall and DMAN opened their new series of "Celle Castle Talks" with the theme "Intercultural competence".

Some130 entrepreneurs from Lower Saxony accepted the invitation to Celle castle. They experienced an informative and entertaining event that examined the broad topic of intercultural competence from various perspectives.

First, the organisers of the Celle Castle Talks presented their new series of events: Dr. Volker Schmidt, Managing Director of NiedersachsenMetall (left), and Dr. Hendrik Schiffmann of DMAN.
In his keynote speech, bestselling author Rolf Dobelli very entertainingly described some systematic errors of reasoning one should avoid in international business, as well as in any other context.
Rolf Ostermeier, Head of Training at MTU Maintenance in Hanover, explained how MTU supports its apprentices in gaining international experience and intercultural competence. On stage with him: trainee Stefan Strasdas, who talked about his stay in the Netherlands.
Considering the shortage of skilled workers in Germany, the integration of foreign employees is a highly important issue. With the "Bienvenido - Welcome to Lower Saxony" programme, Bildungswerk der niedersächsischen Wirtschaft (BNW) supports German companies in finding skilled workers abroad and preparing them for living and working in Germany. Markus Humpert from BNW presented the programme.
The Spanish electrical engineer Jose Antonio Martinez Ramon has found a permanent position in Lower Saxony through the Bienvenido programme. He was happy to answer the questions of moderator Astrid Frohloff about his first experiences in Germany.
Anyone who is employed at a company like TÜV Nord which is active in some 70 countries, works in mixed international teams every day. Dr. Wolfgang Matz, Head of Strategic Human Resources Management at the global service provider, presented the measures with which TÜV Nord supports its employees in acquiring intercultural competence.
In the panel discussion, the speakers answered questions from the audience.
The programme was framed by two performances of the corporate theatre "inszenio" from Berlin. At the beginning of the event they played a scene in which the communication between the German and Chinese business partners does not really work out. The "resolution" was presented at the end of the event - the same scene, now played with a high degree of intercultural competence.

During the get-together in the Caroline Mathilde rooms of the Celle castle museum, the participants took the opportunity to discuss and network.