Presentation of Swiss Research Partnership Projects
Swiss Universities for Applied Sciences and Swisscontact
A development promotion program backed by SDC
Intercultural Exchange
INTRODUCTION
This final report gives an overview of ViceVersa, the intercultural exchange project between new media students of the European Humanities University EHU Minsk and HyperWerk FHBB Basel.
It summarizes the events of the project and shows some important experiences during the practical project work. The idea of ViceVersa was born during the United Nation (UNDP) and Swiss Development and Cooperation program (SDC) project chernobyl.info. The Belarusian project partners gave us the impulse to work for an other project. The preparations for ViceVersa took us approximately one and a half year. Especially the financing part was more difficult than we have expected. During the conception phase, the Swiss students cooperated closely with the Belarusian students. We found a way of cooperation in order to work as equal partners even over a long distance
EXPIRATION
Conversion phase
The conversion phase began late night at the 26th October 2003 with the arrival of the Belarusian students in Zurich. We started the very first day with a sightseeing tour through Basel. The next day immediately we started to get close to the topic of the “Fotonovela”. Winfried Gerling has presented us some important contemporary photographers in his excellent workshop. We discussed about the pictures and tried to understand the main message of each single photographe. He gave us hints to understand some very particular thoughts in all the pictures. Finally he showed us some “Fotonovelas” and offered us some practical support during the conception and conversion of the individual work. The cooperation with him was extremely energizing and for the project of inestimable importance. At the 2nd November 2003 all the students flew together to Minsk to conversion their works. The highlight of ViceVersa was the presentation of the brand new “Fotonovelas” at the 10th November 2003 in Minsk. Approximately 150 visitors attended it and we even had to sent home some more visitors because there weren’t enough seats available. After the presentation the Swiss students flew back to Switzerland. Also the presentation at the 28th November 2003 in Basel was very crowded.
After we finished ViceVersa, three students organized a Workshop called “Global Media Network” at HyperWerk FHBB in Basel. The Topic of the Workshops focused the chances for Hyperwerk students working in the context of international cooperation. Also the experiences from ViceVersa were part of the workshop content. Two guest lecturers enriched the three and a half days during the Workshop. Normally students who organize a workshop earn money. These three students donate their organizing sold to ViceVersa. With this money ViceVersa has been possible.
COOPERATION
Students
Planning the project by mail and phone was more difficult than expected. This was not only because of the long distance, but also because the Belarusian Students were obviously not used to project work. However, we value the evaluation period very positively. During the project, the cooperation among the students improved. Both sides contributed large parts of the success and cooperated motivated. Although we were not sure all, if the project will succeed. The intercultural exchange among the members was very intensive.
Institutionally
The conclusion evaluation of institutional cooperation was not precipitate so positively. The head of EHU was able to provide only small financial contributions for the ViceVersa. Nevertheless the support of the Computer and Sciences department in Minsk could have been much better. The Project member were able to work only for a few hours per day at the University. They usually worked in private appartements or in restaurants. It was also very difficult to find a room for the public presentation of ViceVersa in Minsk.
The project team of ViceVersa likes to thank very much the KFPE foundation and the Austrian Airlines for their very friendly support. Without their generous financial support, ViceVersa wouldn’t have been possible.
Contact
Hyperwerk Fachhochschule beider Basel fhbb
Totentanz 17-18
CH-4001 Basel
Tel. +41 61 269 92 21
Projektverantwortung: Prof. Mischa Schaub msc@hyperwerk.ch
Ansprechperson: Roland Hunziker rhu@hyperwerk.ch
Partnerinstitution / Projektmitverantwortung:
FIT EHU European Humanities University Minsk
Prospekt Skarina 24
220030 Minsk, Weissrussland
Tel. +375 17 284 06 98
Prof. Alexander Gorelik gorelik@ehu.unibel.by