NÜRTINGEN (hfwu). In the winter semester, professors from Italy, Turkey, and Vietnam came to Nürtingen-Geislingen Universitiy (NGU) as part of the Visiting Professorship Program of Kreissparkasse Esslingen-Nürtingen. NGU is considered a model university for sustainable development – an area of interest shared by the international scholars.
Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Öcal is a financial market expert, but above all, a passionate university teacher. "It makes me happy to pass on experience and knowledge," says the scientist from Gelisim University in Istanbul. According to him, the best way to learn is to teach. This is his experience, and he practices it with his students. Working in groups is always part of it. "If a student is very good, others learn from him. Being able to pass on something learned is highly motivating." In addition to his work at the university, Öcal has his own consulting firm in Turkey and extensive experience in international companies. What the professor implements in teaching, he also knows from the business world – in Turkey. "In Germany, predefined processes are in the foreground. In Turkey, we are more flexible; it's more about learning by doing, even if mistakes happen," reports the economist. In addition to teaching at NGU, an exchange with officials from Kreissparkasse Esslingen-Nürtingen was part of the program during the stay abroad. The focus was on the impact of the global economy on the German economy and, in particular, the banking sector. Time was also set aside for hobbies. Öcal once made it to the Turkish national table tennis team. For a few training sessions at the Bundesliga (German National League) club Frickenhausen, he was gladly welcomed.
Dr. Minh Hanh Le heard about the Visiting Professorship Program of Kreissparkasse Esslingen-Nürtingen for the first time at her university in Vietnam. The International Office of NGU had presented the German university on-site, including the guest professor program. The decision to apply was quickly made. "Environmental protection is taken seriously in Germany," says the economist respectfully. She contributed her expertise at NGU, including in the course Environmental Economics. As a lecturer at the Vietnamese-German University in Ho Chi Minh City, the bridge to Germany is close. Minh Hanh Le earned her doctorate in human resources at TU Braunschweig. Her scientific work focuses on value-oriented performance measurement and the evaluation of the efficiency of banks and educational institutions. "I admire German culture," says the mother of two daughters, one of whom attended Hölderlin Gymnasium (secondary school, prepares for university.) in Nürtingen during her stay at NGU. Regarding the planning and flexibility of Germans, she confirms the view of her Turkish colleague. "Vietnamese are more flexible; Germans need more lead time," says Minh Hanh Le. In communication, Asians emphasize the context, while Germans are more concerned with content. However, according to her observation, such cultural differences are increasingly fading in the international business world.
The third in the trio of KSK professors at NGU in the winter semester was Dr. Mario Nicoliello. It is not excluded that Hüseyin Öcal and Minh Hanh Le will follow his example. The economist from the Italian university in Lombardy's Brescia had already been at NGU for a teaching and research stay in 2020. (Published on 08.01.2024 | Written by Udo Renner)