September 2004 Workshop Communicating in two cultures The Franco-German University EUPRIO, Malta 2004 Ulrike Reimann

September 2004 The Franco-German University  Bi-national university, international institution  Group of affiliated member universities  130 member universities  Administration located in Saarbrücken/Germany  17 employees (Franco-German team) Euprio 2004

September 2004 The Franco-German University  Established 1997  Weimar Agreement  Intergovernmental agreement  17 September 1999: agreement came into effect Euprio 2004

September 2004 Financing  Equally by France and Germany  France: Ministry of Foreign Affairs / Ministry of Education  Germany: Ministry of Education / Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Länder (federal states)  Budget 2004: 9 million €uro (2000: 5,8) Euprio 2004

September 2004 Euprio 2004

September 2004 Responsibilities  Reinforcement of cooperation between France and Germany with regard to university education and research  Creation, Promotion and Implementation of integrated Franco-German Courses of Study Euprio 2004

September 2004 Responsibilities  Promotion of Research and Development  Advancement of Graduate Education  Development of Cooperation Agreements with other countries (tri-lateral) Euprio 2004

September 2004 Core task: Integrated courses of study  2003/2004: 115 bi-national courses of study  10 tri-lateral courses (preparation phase)  students in 2003/2004, 400 doctoral candidates  Disciplines: arts and social sciences, engineering, natural sciences, law, economics, medicine  Types of colleges: Universities, Universities of applied sciences, Grandes Ecoles Euprio 2004

September 2004 Quality standards  Integrated curriculum / joint study regulations  Training in two educational systems  Joint group of French and German students  Acquisition of two national degrees  At least three semesters at the partner university Euprio 2004

September 2004 Advantages  Exemption from tuition fees at the partner university  Mobility grant for the duration of the stay abroad  Professional and intercultural education  Quality assurance of the programs - Evaluation Euprio 2004

September 2004 Location of the member universities Euprio 2004

September 2004 Public Relations Euprio 2004  Public Relations since August 2000  One press office for France and Germany  Communication concept SWOT-analysis, tasks, targets groups, messages, measures

September 2004 Communication goals / target image Euprio 2004  Reliable and competent partner and sponsor  Covering a comprehensive range  Central and most important institution in F-G  Courses of study and programs with high quality  Marketing of the programs and courses of study

September 2004 Communication goals / target image Euprio 2004  Mediator and coordinator  Competent and reliable partner  Legal and organisational expertise and example

September 2004 The target groups Euprio 2004 External target groups  Potential students (school pupils)  Teachers and parents  The general public  Politicians (lobbyists)  Business companies  Potential sponsors

September 2004 The target groups Euprio 2004 Internal target groups  Students under the auspices of the FGU  Member and partner universities and institutions  Programme coordinators and their staff  Staff of the FGU  Decision-makers in the committees  Partner institutions (DAAD, DFG, MSU, CIDU)  Politicians (ministers)  Panels of experts  Members and observers of the university council

Internal communication  Communication network  Common press releases  Administrative platform  Meetings of the members  Expert meetings  Conferences on specific subjects  Student and graduate fair “Franco-German Forum”  On-line job and trainee placement exchange  Setting up an alumni organisation September 2004 Implementation Euprio 2004

Message  We are regularly kept informed by the FGU  With the FGU we increase the quality of our binational courses of study and thus our international profile  The FGU supports us  We are partners of the FGU September 2004 Implementation Euprio 2004

External communication  Information material  Media  Internet  Events  Lectures and exhibitions  PR-Campaigns for special target groups  Sponsoring activities September 2004 Implementation Euprio 2004

September 2004 Problems Euprio 2004  Internal communication  Intercultural differences  Staff problems (17 employees)  Language problems

September 2004 Public Relations Euprio 2004  Institutions like the FGU or the GIU are important and necessary  Important point of contact to take over the marketing of international programs

September 2004 Public Relations Euprio 2004 Solutions  convince the internal target groups  Arguments of money, quality and marketing  Controlling (contract, evaluation)  Bi-national team – an advantage?

September 2004 Public Relations Euprio 2004 Communication across cultures needs inter-cultural competence!!!