On April 13 and 14, the doctoral students of the second cohort had the opportunity to participate in the “Breaking Barriers: Mastering Effective Communication and Managing Conflicts” workshop led by trainer Dr. Alexander Britz. Over the course of the two days, participants learned a great deal about communication, leadership skills, and conflict management through lectures, interactive activities such as role-playing, andin-depth discussions.

The content was specifically tailored to the academic environment, and participants were able to contribute their own topics and questions. Among other things, the program included intercultural communication—a topic of particular importance given the enriching diversity within the graduate college.

The event concluded with a group discussion with some of the principal investigators, during which potential challenges and possible solutions were openly discussed—and the newly acquired knowledge was put directly into practice.

Overall, it was a thoroughly successful event from which all participants were able to take away valuable insights for their own futures and that of the Graduate College. A heartfelt thank you goes to Dr. Alexander Britz for the excellent design and facilitation of the workshop!