The IMPRS for Computer Science offers seminars on various subjects in the area of soft skills. The seminars are targeted at our students and aim at deepening their knowledge, as well as at providing them an opportunity for practical exercise.
The various seminars usually consist of some form of lecture or presentation on the subject, as well as a practical part in which the students analyze and correct their own work and that of others. In this way, the newly acquired knowledge becomes experience.
This year’s Soft Skills Seminar will take place from August 8th to 14th, 2019.
Every year, we offer a selection of the modules listed below. To find out more about this year’s schedule, check our Soft Skills Seminar 2019 Overview.
You can register for single modules or for the whole seminar via .
Presentation Skills
This module helps students to improve their personal presentation skills. This session is a lecture followed by a practical part with exercises which turn the acquired knowledge into personal experience. Topics are, among others: how to structure a presentation so that the audience can follow it easily, designing slides, making the best possible use of visual aids and technical equipment, dealing with interruptions, handling questions, keeping an eye on the time and the best way of finishing in a hurry, common mistakes, what to do when nervous, how to give proper feedback, etc. Furthermore, non-native speakers of English are offered a number of phrases they can use e.g. for transition. Exercises deal with posture, breathing, voice and body language.
Finally, and most importantly, each seminar students holds a presentation which is video-taped by the staff. The students are given individual feedback and have the chance to watch themselves on tape. The same presentations are then repeated and again recorded. Experience shows that the vast majority of students improves significantly from the first to the second round, and has fewer problems with nervousness.
Scientific Poster
Scientists quite often have to present their work graphically. This is common practice, e.g. at scientific conferences. This module is a thorough introduction to poster design. It covers the planning phase, as well as the actual realisation, explaining in great detail a variety of issues such as generally accepted rules for content and layout, things that are well received by a target audience, colour symbolism, the use of illustrations and graphics, recommended fonts and other rules for text formatting, as well as special requirements of the print medium as opposed to on-screen presentations. Common mistakes are discussed and a checklist for poster-review is handed out. The students are shown numerous examples of posters made by their fellow scientists as well as from other sources. Finally, they are asked to analyze, correct, and hand in a poster of their choice.
Scientific Writing
When students are confronted with having to write a scientific paper, be it their thesis or a piece of work for a journal or conference later in their career, they are often insecure as to what would be the best way to go about this. Profound knowledge of the rules that are relevant for scientific writing can help prevent many mistakes and promote the project’s success.
This module consists of a detailed lecture as well as practical exercises. The following issues are dealt with: how to adjust your work to a specific target group (audience), general structure of a paper with detailed explanations as to the purpose of each element and its realisation, i.e. title, abstract, keywords, introduction, related works, body of the paper, style, fonts and layout, results, discussion, conclusion, acknowledgements, and tables.
The final lecture session deals with the process of publishing a paper: rules for submitting a manuscript, dealing with the reviewers’ comments etc.
Job Application Training
This module is tailored to the needs of students; it provides them with valuable information as well as practical training in the field of job application. The seminar deals first with issues like self-assessment and sources of information on orientation and career planning before moving on to the actual application process. The students learn the best techniques and which approach to take when applying for a job, including some less wide-spread tips that enhance success. The essential elements of a written application, CV and cover letter, are discussed in detail as regards their layout and content, and also with consideration of variations in different countries (e.g. the United States). The seminar then offers advice on job interviews: the usual structure of the interview, general rules and tips concerning proper conduct, appearance and body language. Finally, a sample assessment centre is introduced.
The students choose a real job ad suitable to them, write a CV and a cover letter and then use these for realistic role play sessions in which the participants go through job interviews and an assessment centre. Students are expected to dress accordingly for their roles as interviewer and interviewee. Everyone assumes each role at least once, allowing the students to change perspectives. The role plays are followed by discussion and specific suggestions for improvement.
Project Management
Whatever they do professionally, students will have to deal with many different projects during their careers – a successful Ph.D. thesis being but one example. There are not only the projects at work, but also in private life; moving house, for example, is definitely a project that benefits from thorough planning. In this module, we first of all define what characteristics constitute a project as such, and then find out why project management is important for guiding a project from start to finish.
The following topics are dealt with: the different planning phases, identifying possible problems, communicating with the right people in the right way, defining targets, turning vague ideas into specific parts of the plan, finding the right level of detail, making network diagrams and Gantt charts, the right way to delegate work, avoiding and dealing with mistakes, how to guide a team, risk management, bringing the project to a close, and post-project evaluation.
The course also includes a practical exercise.
Time and Self Management
When it comes to organizing their work, students face the same problems as, for example, people working in management. In this module they are provided with an introduction to different approaches to time and self-management. These include analyzing one’s personal effectiveness by identifying time wasters and learning how to keep an activity log. Students learn rules for effective scheduling and find out how to overcome the time wasters identified at the beginning of the course.
With the help of specific techniques and an orderly work place, life will become so much easier because it is organized. Learn about “Pomodoro” and other time management techniques and simplify your working environment, reduce stressors and be more creative.
Communication
By means of a combination of lecture and practical exercises, students learn about the meaning of communication in their every day professional and private lives. The module begins with an introduction to communication theory, including the subject of body language and the ratio of verbal, non-verbal and vocal aspects of communication, followed by several practical exercises. The exercises deal with various issues, such as body language, voice sound, modulation, and communication in a team. The analysis of the exercises demonstrates the need for proper communication, as well as the massive influence that right (or wrong) communication exerts on all spheres of human interaction. Furthermore, the students receive practical advice concerning the use of communication techniques (e.g. 5-sentences-training, small talk) and learn about how to avoid conflicts or deal with them, respectively.
Cross-Cultural Knowledge
The importance of cross-cultural knowledge in professional life is often underestimated. However, as soon as people from different cultural backgrounds have to work together, cultural differences become an issue. When subtle differences are overlooked, problems may arise. This lecture provides a quick introduction to cross-cultural knowledge with respect to professional relationships. The seminar deals with business communication as well as different ways of organization and leadership. Furthermore, proper German and international business manners are explained. The aim of this module is mainly to sensitize the students to the importance of cultural differences in a multi-national working environment.
Press and Public Relations
Developing and maintaining a relationship with the press and the external presentation of an organization are the two main topics covered in this seminar. The students learn how to satisfy the media’s demand for professionalism and how to organize their press work. Finally, practical exercises will include writing press releases.
Read and Mnemo Techniques
Students and scientists often have to absorb and internalize enormous amounts of information. This may cost them more time than necessary. In this module, participants learn how to apply special reading techniques in order to be able to read a lot faster (around 70% increase in speed) but also more thoroughly, without compromising comprehension. The module consists of lots of active practice with many reading exercises and tests, enabling participants to learn and use speed reading techniques in class, so as to be able to successfully apply them for themselves in the future.
Leadership
Good leaders should be good managers, and vice versa, but it is first important to understand the difference between the two. Leaders deal with people (staff, skills, style, and shared values) and focus on the long-term growth, change and development of an organization; they build trust, energize and motivate people in a team. Managers must deal with things or technology now (strategy, structure, and systems) and are occupied with bureaucratic stuff like measuring, maintaining, looking at past statistics, assessing and making urgent decisions. Students in this seminar will work with fundamental questions on leadership and management: What are the performance objectives? What resources are available? Who should you interact with? What viable authority do you have? Especially on the job, people are required to influence people every day – win their support, inspire them, engage their imagination, create a relationship with them. This seminar teaches the fundamental techniques in handling people. Can you really make people like you and, more importantly, do what you want by avoiding criticism, showing them sincere appreciation and arousing their will to agree with you. Students in this seminar will learn simple rules of thumb to change people and win them over to their own way of thinking. Techniques they will practice in class involve a combination of interpersonal, communication, presentation and assertiveness skills. Learn why people follow a leader and how your leadership role in a workgroup can maximize that group’s ultimate productivity.
Stress Management
What is stress? What causes it? How can you relieve yourself of negative stress? Whatever stresses you — a conflict at home, bad feedback at work or poor time management, to name only a few causes – this stress will make you sick. Students in this seminar learn how to identify their stressors and practice proven techniques in stress management and relief.
Ethics in Science
This seminar aims at raising the awareness that it is every scientist´s responsibility to prevent scientific misconduct. Of course, a “true scientist” alleges that he works 24/7 at the computer or in the lab to uncover the truth, not to invent it. However, this ideal is sometimes challenged by scientists seeking glory, recognition and money.
The degree of trust and respect awarded to colleagues in academia is very high and an important basis of the intellectual world… Science needs openness, free exchange of ideas, sincerity and fairness… Forgers and swindlers in the ranks would lead to distrust, and distrust would be answered with distrust, a scenario that would destroy any scientific or intellectual climate and would do away with the joy of science.
(Text in italics from Georg W. Kreutzberg, The Rules of Good Science).
Influence
Especially on the job, people are required to influence people every day – win their support, inspire them, engage their imagination, create a relationship with them. This seminar teaches the fundamental techniques in handling people. Can you really make people like you and, more importantly, do what you want by avoiding criticism, showing them sincere appreciation and arousing their will to agree with you. Students in this seminar will learn simple rules of thumb to change people and win them over to their own way of thinking. Techniques they will practice in class involve a combination of interpersonal, communication, presentation and assertiveness skills.
Diversity Management
“Diversity management is the ‘recognition and valorization of individual differences’. The concept of diversity encompasses acceptance and respect. It means understanding that each individual is unique, and recognizing our individual differences. These can be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs or other ideologies. It is the exploration of these differences in a safe, positive, and nurturing environment. Moreover, it is about understanding each other and moving beyond simple tolerance to embracing and celebrating the rich dimensions of diversity in each individual.” [Source: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multicultural_and_diversity_management (June 17, 2014)]
In this module, students will participate in a role play exercise in order to learn what it means to be different and how to cope with it. Although the topic is complex and difficult to grasp, the exercises are effective preparation for working with different cultures.
Creativity Techniques
Everyone wants to be creative. Without creativity there is only repetition and routine. Creativity is needed for change, improvement and new directions. Too many people believe that creativity is a talent with which some people are born and the rest can only envy. However, everybody is creative. Creativity is a skill that can be learned, developed and applied. Creativity is a skill that everyone can practice and use. In this workshop creativity techniques will be introduced and practiced. The whole day is an exercise day with random words. Students will apply the technique, going beyond the obvious, problem-solving, constructive and perceptual creativity, associations, and possibilities.
English Pronunciation Course: Mastering the American Accent
When we say “pronunciation”, we are not only referring to the sounds that individual vowels and consonants take, but also to syllable stress, word stress, intonation, and linking. All of these elements influence the sound of spoken language, and spoken American English involves so many complexities! We will take a whole semester to train your American accent and have you sounding more like a native English speaker. Your improved English pronunciation will better your self-esteem and increase the quality of your communication in English-speaking environments.
Academic Writing for Graduate Students
This course is geared toward advanced non-native English speakers who would like to improve their academic writing skills. The exercises are not discipline specific, but the information and skills acquired can be applied to writing texts in the field of computer science. Ultimately, this course should help prepare you for writing up your own research — a massive undertaking that we should like to tackle gently. Our first exercises will focus on style and rhetorical skills, the awareness of which will make your texts clearer and more effective at the sentence and paragraph level. We will then examine two expository writing structures, General-Specific and Problem-Solution, because a good command of these is necessary in order to successfully communicate your scientific expertise. We will also devote some time to data commentaries and summaries before finally turning our attention to the question of how to construct a good research paper.
Grammar Choices for Academic Writing
Grammar is the system of choices that create meaning in a language. You might not think about all these choices all the time, but the reader is influenced by the effects of these choices. Although there are certainly some rules governing acceptable and unacceptable grammar, there are far more choices to be made among grammatically acceptable forms that have different meanings. The ability to control these meanings will help students communicate more effectively and efficiently in graduate-level and professional academic writing.
Grammar Choices for Graduate and Professional Writers (Nigel A. Caplan, 2012) was written for graduate students, including MBA, master’s, and doctoral candidates, as well as postdoctoral researchers and faculty. It describes the language of advanced academic writing with more than 300 real examples from successful graduate students and from published texts, including corpora. Activities encourage students to investigate the language choices that are typical of their own academic disciplines or professional fields through structured reading and writing activities.
Grammar Choices is a guide to the choices available to academic writers in English. Each of the eight units in Grammar Choices contains: an overview of the grammar topic; a preview test that allows students to assess their control of the target grammar and teachers to diagnose areas of difficulty; an authentic example of graduate-student writing showing the unit grammar in use; clear descriptions of essential grammar structures using the framework of functional grammar, cutting-edge research in applied linguistics, and corpus studies; vocabulary relevant to the grammar point is introduced—for example, common verbs in the passive voice, summary nouns used with this/these, and irregular plural nouns; authentic examples for every grammar point from corpora and published texts; exercises for every grammar point that help writers develop grammatical awareness and use, including completing sentences, writing, revising, paraphrasing, and editing; and a section inviting writers to investigate discipline-specific language use and apply it to an academic genre.
Academic Presentations
At university, at the work place and basically any other place, it is essential to deliver good presentations. But what actually makes a presentation good? The aim of this course is to help beginners and advanced presenters to improve their presentation skills, in order to become more accurate, engage their audience and deliver the right message within the right time. The contents of the course include: Focusing on structure – introduction, body and conclusion Language – content language and functional language Verbal and non verbal communication – use your body! Voice – tone – use your voice! Pace and pronunciation – how fast can/should you speak during a presentation Visual aspects – how to deal with slides, photographs, etc. The course will require a regular attendance and interactive participation. Participants will be asked to deliver various short presentations throughout the course and a final presentation at the end of the semester.
Storytelling
This module covers the following contents:
- the importance of storytelling in communication
- What is storytelling, how can it be used in organizations?
- the importance of the CAST model
- organizational storytelling principles
- the importance of scenarios, structure and visualization
- theory and practical exercises
Management Techniques
Managers use the circle of think-change-operate-communicate-sustain-think in order to organise their work life. This module covers theory and practical exercises.
Human Resource Management
Human resource management (HRM or HR) is the management of human resources. Commonly referred to as the HR Department, it is designed to maximize employee performance in service of an employer’s strategic objectives. HR is primarily concerned with the management of people within organizations, focusing on policies and on systems.
How to Lead Generation Y
The lifelong learner is aware of his own strengths and weaknesses and improves his skills through lifelong learning starting from his personal and professional needs. This enables him to lead a team with clearly defined and genuine directives, supporting and stimulating everyone’s performance.
Intercultural Competence
It is important to be culturally competent at work. Individuals that are effective and appropriate in intercultural situations display high levels of cultural self-awareness and understand the influence of culture on behavior, values, and beliefs. In this workshop, different theories and approaches are displayed and taken into action. With the method of storytelling and simulations aspects of intercultural interactions are introduced and applied, which will be affected by the understanding of the self and own culture. Self-awareness in intercultural situations refers to the ability of self-monitoring in such interactions to censor anything not acceptable to another culture.
Cross Cultural Communication
While intercultural competence is a range of cognitive, affective, and behavioral skills cross cultural communication leads to effective and appropriate communication with people of other cultures. Effective cross cultural communication relates to behaviors that culminate with the accomplishment of the desired goals of the interaction and all parties involved in the situation. Appropriate cross cultural communication includes behaviors that suit the expectations of a specific culture, the characteristics of the situation, and the level of the relationship between the parties involved in the situation.
In this workshop, communication techniques are introduced that are appropriate to a globalized world working in international teams. Methods will be practiced as Storytelling, Active Listening, Bonfire, Dining, Humble Inquiry, and Mediation – a dynamic, structured, interactive process where a neutral third party assists disputing parties in resolving conflict through the use of specialized communication and negotiation techniques. All participants in mediation are encouraged to actively participate in the process.
Didactics Compact (Train the Trainer)
At the end is the final test – and it is too late in case students were not able to follow and digest/understand the lecture or seminar during the semester. This workshop shows pedagogical approaches and tools to make sure that lecturing becomes student centred. At the end of the day the lecturer knows that what s/he taught reached the student. During the day tools to make classes and lectures more interactive are introduced and explained, tried out and sampled, and finally evaluated. Train the trainer, become a better teacher…
Pitch and Presentation
Pitch better, present better. During the workshop you will be filmed and analyzed.
Use the technique of a sales pitch, a line of talk that attempts to persuade someone or something, to pitch and present better. A sales pitch is essentially designed to be either an introduction of a product or service to an audience who knows nothing about it, or a descriptive expansion of a product or service that an audience has already expressed interest in.
An elevator pitch is a short description of an idea, product, company, or oneself that explains the concept in a way such that any listener can understand it in a short period of time. The description explains e.g. one’s skills and goals, and why they would be a productive and beneficial person to have on a team or within a company/project. An elevator pitch can be used to explain an idea. The goal is simply to convey the overall concept or topic in an exciting way. The name reflects the idea that it should be possible to deliver the summary in the time span of an elevator ride, or approximately thirty seconds to two minutes.
Design Thinking
Design Thinking is a process for problem solving and creating new ideas. The method is based on the idea that problems are better solved; when people from different backgrounds work together, design a questionnaire that takes into account the different motivations and needs of people. A concept is developed that will be proofed from different perspectives.
In this workshop the participants will run through and try out the parts (problem definition, research, finding ideas and prototyping) of the design thinking process in a compacted way. Methods and tools are introduced and practiced to develop an understanding of the design thinking process.