From Graz to Galway – An Erasmus+ Journey

Ulrike Werzer from the University of Graz spent a week with us to refine her English skills. In her job at the university alumni department, she helps Graz alumni stay connected and thrive within a worldwide Graz graduate network. We were delighted to welcome her last week as she participated in an Erasmus Plus course.

During an interview with Ulli, she told me about her role at the University of Graz, which is populated by over 30,000 students and nearly 5,000 staff members in various faculties. The University collaborates with its alumni, several of whom are Nobel Prize winners. Ulli facilitates worldwide conversation among the alumni, organising events and providing support, often in English. It therefore made sense to her to visit Galway to level up her professional English communication.

Ulrike Werzer from the University of Graz, Austria

In Conversation with Ulli

To provide some background, Ulli started by introducing herself:

I’m from Austria. I work at the Alumni Department of the University of Graz. We also have some international graduates, so I decided it would be nice to improve my English a little bit, and that’s why I came here. Two colleagues of mine already did this course a few years ago, and they really enjoyed it, and they really recommended it.

I wasn’t aware that this Erasmus+ programme is available, and I think it’s a really good idea.

Like many other course participants, Ulli described attending the course as a step outside her comfort zone:

So far, it’s been a good experience for me because I’ve met new people. It has been quite challenging for me to do something like that, to do something on my own.

Despite having only recently become aware of the Erasmus Plus programme and funding options, Uli did not find the application process taxing:

It wasn’t difficult at all. It was just a lot of documents, but the application process was explained quite well. I got support from the international office at our university back home, and also from the staff at Atlantic. Everything worked out quite easily even though I applied quite late. I was a bit worried that everything would go through, but I was lucky in the end.

Ulli joined a class to do Intensive General English each morning and two one-to-one lessons in professional English communication each afternoon:

The one-to-one tuition is more about professional English, everything business and work-related; for example learning how to write an email in polite language because people from English-speaking countries are more polite.

Comparing the benefits of class and private tuition, Ulli said:

The programme is really good. I was really impressed. I didn’t know what to expect, but I was really surprised because it has been much better than I thought. The course is really structured. The classmates are more or less on the same level. It’s good to talk to them.

The one-to-one class in the afternoon is different. You are not able to hide but the teacher tailors the class to what you need to learn. It’s quite intense, though, because I’m not used to learning anymore.

At the University of Graz

Circling back to her career in higher education, Ulli said:

The University of Graz is quite big. It’s the biggest in Styria, one of Austria’s states, with Graz as its capital. All subjects are taught except for medical and technical subjects.

I work in the alumni department. One of my tasks is to communicate with graduates and create reports. I also do surveys and evaluate our programmes and activities and things like that.

The survey results allow us to make decisions on actions to engage our alumni more and select the activities we provide.