Swiss and South African students collaborate on Model-based Solution Design
A three-week study module across two continents provided cultural insights and valuable experience working in diverse teams.
The study module Model-based Solution Design brought together 24 students from three universities across two continents. The course was designed and offered by the Master’s programme in Business Information Systems by the FHNW School of Business together with the University of Pretoria and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology.
During the intensive three-week module, which took place in South Africa for the first two weeks and in Olten for the final week, students worked on challenges involving design thinking, enterprise modeling, ontology engineering and prototyping cyber-physical systems. By integrating the digital and the physical world, the students were able to design complex solutions that are accessible for stakeholders with various backgrounds and who do not have any programming skills.
Apart from the academic programme, the international study module also provided opportunities for cultural exchange and activities that created a unique experience for the involved students and staff from the three participating universities. The FHNW School of Business was honoured to host His Excellency Mr. Sello Moloto, Ambassador of South Africa to Switzerland, at the farewell-event in Olten. The Ambassador's visit further highlights the distinct and prestigious nature of this academic partnership.
«Interacting in a multicultural setting gives you a different perspective. You see how other people go about solving specific tasks. It made me think and reflect about how I do things.»
«The practical focus of the study module makes it easy to get a better understanding of the subject and the theories behind it.»
«Working with different cultures was really interesting. This experience will help me in the future as it taught me how to handle working in large groups of people with different backgrounds.»
