The Institute of Architecture and Planning at the University of Liechtenstein is a truly international place to study. Students originate from 32 different countries including Australia, Brazil, China, Colombia, Egypt, Japan, India, Iran, Thailand, Switzerland, Austria and – Liechtenstein, among many others.

To give voice to this multi-cultural crowd AL Magazine has invited two student guest editors, Alina Sonea from Romania and Aza Stass from Syria to join the team for this issue. They collected impressions and documented experiences related to working and studying in this unique international environment.

Trudi Ackermann Head of the University’s International Office. Mother, wife and a current Master student.

Trudi, how long has it been since you became head of the International Office at the University of Liechtenstein?

I got this position in 2008. But before this, I was part of the International Office staff for quite a while.

How many partner universities does the University of Liechtenstein have at the moment?

There are over eighty, belonging to many countries from four different continents, unfortunately none from Australia.

On what basis do you chose the universities?

We have an International Commission which decides on partnerships. In special events, representatives from our two faculties (architecture and business) meet with the International Office and establish new relations between the schools.

What is the future plan of the University of Liechtenstein? Do you see it becoming even more international?

We are working on an internationalisation strategy for the University, this being one of the four top strategies that we have planned for the coming years. There is still plenty to do. The first step will be to re-evaluate all partnerships that we have; we lost contact with some and with others, the number of incoming students is very different from the one of outgoing ones. The second step that we discussed is the collaboration within the field of research, which is a new field for the University. Internationalisation has many different aspects; it is not just about student exchange, but also about bringing change within the University’s walls. The academic environment needs to be prepared to welcome this cultural diversity. Internationalisation brings change to the class-room, in the way we teach and communicate with each other. Professors need to be well-prepared to deal with students coming from very different cultures mixing in the same lecture hall or collaborating in the work studio. An appropriate communication and the professors’ international experience are imperative. We also encourage exchange between professors, not only students, and we provide support to teaching and administrative staff when they think they need to improve their English skills. We need to understand that some students are exposed to a cultural shock when arriving here (especially students from the Asian and African continents). We cannot behave in the same way with a Chinese student as we do with a French one, for example. The internationalisation strategy will consider such aspects.

Why did you decide to apply for a job in the International Office here and what is the biggest reward that you get from doing it?

Oh, the biggest reward is the students themselves, the opportunity to work with them.  I love working with people. The reason why I’m doing it is because I have been abroad myself. I did a one year internship in the USA, Penn State University and it just changed my life; it became a starting point for my professional career and for my personal life as well. You cannot say how it would have been different if I hadn’t gone, but the fact that I went is the reason why I am here now. A semester abroad is such a valuable experience: it can really change your personality; it can enhance your social skills and develop them further. Nowadays we talk about intercultural competences because in the context of the world today, they are very important. The international experience opens up your mind, it makes you curious to learn new things and prepare you for an international work place.

Students in the Master’s programme in Architecture are required to study one semester abroad. Where do you see the biggest advantage in this?

One of the advantages and competences that you gain when going abroad is learning another language, mostly English. And being able to speak another language is a necessity for you as an individual, because it opens up the world. You open the door of communication and cultural exchange. You can understand so many new things about the world and about the people that are surrounding you. If you decide that you don’t want to know another language, then this door is closed and this opportunity is lost. So I don’t think it is a matter of fashion, but a necessity for you as a person. But it also depends on what you want to do in life and on your profession. People are moving all across the globe. Many people have to move because of economic reasons. A lot of people want to move because of professional reasons or because of personal ones. Some people are less fortunate because they are forced to move because of wars. We should be very happy to be here, because we are not obliged to move. We have peace, work and a wonderful environment. But we do have the opportunity to choose if we want to commute or change our environment easily. We are very lucky.

Considering the context of globalisation today, do you think that we loose something when we go abroad?

No, I don’t think we do. Whatever you had when you left your country or community, it is never lost. It’s always with you. But I think that you learn to look at things differently and you start taking different decisions. One learns new ways of interacting. You can choose to act and to respond differently to life situations. I think it’s important to see that things can be done differently but while still getting the same result. You learn these things and you get a bigger repertoire of decision-making, acting, interacting. So you gain, you don’t loose. That actually leads to another question: how much do you adapt abroad? Is integration through adaptation making you lose what you were? Again, I don’t think it is. It is about recognising the differences. Going abroad makes you realise that you are different from others. I think that the idea of globalisation only helps us to learn how to live in harmony with each other and how to benefit from each other. But that doesn’t mean that we are giving up on who we are or that everyone becomes equal. So it’s a gain. A big gain, actually.

Given today’s means of immediate communication, fast learning, fast movement, fast transportation and global movement, is belonging to a nationality relevant and identity important anymore?

Identity, what is identity? What is human identity? Does it need to be linked to a nation? These are two different things. Of course moving abroad makes you at the end of the day a bit bi-cultural. There is a cultural influence on you because you grew up in a place and then lived somewhere else. But why should you always be the same? You only add a new element. We constantly change anyway.

On an individual basis I agree, too, that nothing is lost. On a collective basis, however, I think that the issue needs to be permanently debated. If you define «cultural identity», you see that it is all about common beliefs, habits, traditions, and day-to-day activities, behaviours that the majority of a community shares. But I personally feel that this can be applied now at a bigger, even global scale due to common activities related to the Internet mostly. So I think that something is lost there. Is what is gained strong enough to justify the loss?

Some of our international students from all around the world had a chat with :

Claire de Clifford Regular student Bachelor’s Programme from Brisbane, Australia

Gareth Dunn Regular student Master’s Programme from Manchester, United Kingdom

Hitanshu Jishtu Regular student Master’s Programme from Shimla, India

Shady Mousa Regular student Master’s Programme from Damascus, Syria

Erlend Sunde Exchange student Master’s Programme from Trondheim, Norway

Claire de Clifford: The location of Liechtenstein in central Europe is perfect for travel, experiencing different cultures and meeting new people. Also, the variety of sports opportunities available in the Alps is a big advantage.

Shady Mousa: I was searching for a post graduate program in Europe after I had a bad experience in Master programmes in the USA due to the unaffordable tuition fees there. Furthermore, it was crucial for me to find a course wholly conducted in English.

Sustainability was a term that intrigued me and I couldn’t really understand the importance and the potential of such a solution and a life style for our contemporary time.

A friend and former student at the University of Liechtenstein encouraged me to move here and get enrolled in the Master’s programme, emphasising on how well organised the school is.

Erlend Sunde: It was just a coincidence that I discovered the exchange agreement between my university and the University of Liechtenstein while browsing for schools. So in the end, I guess it was the fact that the master studies are taught in English that originally became the main reason for wanting to study here.

Hitanshu Jishtu: I was really attracted by what is mentioned on the website about the Master’s programme in Sustainable Design focussing on alpine architecture. I am from the Himalayas so I am keen to learn more about building in the mountains. This course seemed perfect, Liechtenstein is a great setting and the course is taught in English.

Gareth Dunn: Previously living in the United States I was looking to do a Masters of Architecture and my family and I wanted to be close to our parents who live in Germany and England.

What are your experiences so far? And how did the International Office contribute to your stay?

Erlend Sunde: From my experience at my home university I’m used to having to take responsibility of my own education. In other words: lectures and assignments are sparse. Most of the time you have to research on your own for material to be used in your design studio. If you are a notorious, unstructured student it can become difficult to keep up with the pace. On the other hand, it gives you the freedom to pursue your own interests in architecture and especially the chance to do projects outside the framework of the school.

When I first came to Liechtenstein, I struggled to cope with the very dense package of knowledge that you’re required to learn every semester. If there is one thing that my stay here really has given me, it must be the ability to micromanage my time and getting better at sorting out what is important and what is not. Generally, the courses on offer have taught me more specific architectural knowledge in one semester than what a whole year would have done in Trondheim.

The ladies at the International Office were very quick in helping me find an apartment for me; they also initiated discussions with the International Office at my school to see if future Norwegian students can receive the ERASMUS scholarship.

Hitanshu Jishtu: Living and studying in a place like Liechtenstein where I dare say everything is done with «swiss precision» is a great experience! Probably only when I return to my home country the reality of how much of these positive traits have influenced me will be realised.

Well, the International Office has been more than helpful even before I landed here, especially with the paperwork for residence permits and the visa. I had absolutely no hope it would be possible for me to make it here in time, so I am really indebted to them for their assistance.

Shady Mousa: I believe that coming to Europe is an opportunity for every non-European. Liechtenstein is located in the heart of Europe. This facilitates travelling all around Europe and that further broadened my knowledge.

Holding a Syrian passport can always cause problems outside the country. However, the International Office has always shown plenty of care for this issue, especially when applying for the semester abroad. They didn’t hesitate to call the French embassy several times to accelerate the Visa procedures.

Gareth Dunn: It is a wonderful setting and one that my whole family is enjoying so far. It has been very rewarding and I have learnt a great deal about European architecture and its construction methods.

Listening to lectures in German in the Bachelor’s Programme was very challenging but with day to day exposure to the language it is getting better. However most students and faculty speak English anyway so communicating has not been that much of an issue.

Claire de Clifford: Studying in Liechtenstein is a really different experience. The benefits of being part of a small student community, with a large international representation are unlimited. There is always something to be learnt from the other students, both personally and in relation to studies. Everyone has a story, a culture to represent and an individual view of the work we are doing and how we are doing it. I think this has really widened my understandings, broadened my views on possibilities and challenged my «default settings». It also provides an insight into my own culture and practices and puts everything into perspective.

I don’t think I’ve really had any difficult situations here ... yet (fingers crossed!). But I know that if I did, the ladies in the International Office would definitely support me. They have been so helpful in the application process, sorting out visas etc. It’s like having an office of mums, they’re great!

How do you spend your day?

Hitanshu Jishtu: Is this a trick question?
I thought everyone does this, come to the University in the morning at 9, work the whole day and go back home at 9 if I am lucky. I have done this almost every single day I have been here …

Gareth Dunn: Typically, I attend the lectures or studio in the mornings, try to do some homework in the late afternoon, home for dinner and family time and then either study at home or come back to University for the night shift.

Claire de Clifford: I am usually at the University for at least part of most days, it’s a nice social setting as well as for work; there is always someone to see or something going on. And I often meet with friends in the afternoon or evening for some kind of social activity; for example sports, dinner or drinks. It’s a very slow pace here so it’s easy just to take things as they come.

Shady Mousa: After finishing my master studies I started an internship to gain professional experience. I work about nine hours a day in an architectural office in Schaan, Liechtenstein, as a designer.

Erlend Sunde: I get up at about 06:45 (sometimes my cats wake me up earlier). I eat a typical (heavy) Nordic breakfast and head for the bus and University an hour later. Normally, I stay at University until six before I head home for dinner and continue working home after that. The weekends are mostly the same as the weekdays, but I try to cram in some more sleep then. I’m afraid all this sleepiness is an effect of growing up in a country which is almost completely dark during half of the year. But then, the only thing that I really miss down here in Liechtenstein is the long summer nights!

Lucius Frick Regular student Master’s Programme  from Liechtenstein

I am Lucius Frick, from Schaan and I am a Master student of the Sustainable Urban Design studio here at the University of Liechtenstein.

Why did you choose this University and, particularly, why are you attending this specific studio?

I chose this place partially because I had good experiences when studying for my Bachelor Diploma here. Additionally, my whole family is in Liechtenstein and I like being close to them. I took the the decision of studying Sustainable Urban Design after long consideration. Initially I opted to study Sustainable Design. However, I felt that during my Bachelor studies I already had good insight in sustainable technology and conception, but I thought I didn’t accumulate enough knowledge in city planning, which I consider to be of great importance.

Did the opportunity to study one semester abroad influence your decision to continue your studies here?

Yes, of course. It is a requirement of the school to study one semester abroad. Hence, the process of going and getting there is automatically well organised and simple.

Is it important for a young architect nowadays to have this inter-cultural experience?

Of course you can do without it, but the opportunity can only bring you benefits. I started my studies at a Swiss university and I realised that experiencing the particularities of different learning environments really influences you later on. I think that if you never go abroad or at least try a different environment is like working in the same office all your life.

You will go abroad this coming semester. Which cities did you sign up for?

I listed Genoa, Rome and Budapest on my application. Frankly it didn’t make so much sense to me to go as far away as possible. Italy is so close to us, so is Hungary, but I don’t feel that I know them well enough yet. Plus, I know the Italian language and this experience offers me the chance to improve my knowledge in it. Given that Liechtenstein is very much related also to Austrian culture, Budapest would provide an opportunity to gain further insight into our neighbour’s history.

Tell me five things that define the experience of going abroad. What do you gain?

1. Living in and adapting to a different culture and environment; gaining local insights, how different communities approach problems, how they resolve them. 2. Getting to know new, interesting people. 3. Receiving new academic knowledge and skills from a different school. 4. The local cuisine I am very much looking forward to! 5. Finally, the fact that whenever you leave your environment for a certain amount of time, you will appreciate it much more when you return.

And what are the disadvantages of going abroad?

Well, not seeing my girlfriend, family and my dog for a while will not be very pleasant, of course. Another factor is the uncertainty of going to a place where I don’t know anyone.

Why do you think other students come to Liechtenstein for their exchange semester?