Communication Management lecturer lends SA lustre to Graz International Summer School

Posted on August 12, 2015

Ms Olebogeng Selebi, a lecturer and PhD-student in the Faculty of Economic and Management Science’s Communication Management Division, was invited to participate in in a summer school in Austria.

Graz University hosted its 10th International Summer School Seggau with the theme ‘Shifting perspectives: Europe and the Americas’ in July 2015. The Summer School was held at the historic Seggau Castle, situated in southern Styria, Austria. A total of 82 students and 18 professors from 31 nations and almost 50 universities were invited to participate in the summer school.

The Graz International Summer School Seggau is designed for internationally-oriented students from all disciplines, wishing to deepen their understanding of current European and international affairs through the discussion of global developments and challenges within the context of transformation. The Summer School had seven seminar modules for students to choose from, namely Politics and Law; Media, Society and Culture; Ethics and Economics; State, Society and Religion; Literature of Transformation; Aging and Life-course; and History and Power. Ms Selebi, whose PhD research is on the subject of development communication, participated in the ‘Ethics and Economics’ seminar.

The main topics discussed were inequality, economic development, economic development plans, the reasons for economic development in certain regions, the reasons for stagnation in certain regions of the world, and the effects of globalisation on economic development. The information gleaned from these discussions provided clarity on socioeconomic and political issues and its effect on economic development and will be applied to Ms Selebi’s PhD research.

Prof Roberta Maierhofer, coordinator of the Graz International Summer School, says the aim of the Summer School is to engage in academic discussions, actively participate in academic and personal encounters, and use this exceptional opportunity to learn.

According to the University of Pretoria’s Strategic Plan 2025, one of UP’s strategic goals is “to strengthen the University’s international profile”. Opportunities such as this bring the University of Pretoria closer to meeting this strategic goal. 

Olebogeng taking the floor in Graz, Austria

- Author Communication Management Division

Copyright © University of Pretoria 2024. All rights reserved.

COVID-19 Corona Virus South African Resource Portal

To contact the University during the COVID-19 lockdown, please send an email to [email protected]

FAQ's Email Us Virtual Campus Share Cookie Preferences