8 January 2009
Accessrx.com
Posted by Luke under: Research and Inter-culture 1 .
| Research in many cases is provoked by the demands, the challenges and the need to address problems of our immediate societies.Research, therefore, is likely to be inclined to our socio-economic, socio-political and socio-cultural capabilities.A good example in this context is a research study on a typical natural phenomenon like floods occurring say in Africa, Asia, or Europe; accessrx.com.Such a study may exhibit different aspects during its implementation and sometimes, in its final output depending on where it occurred – accessrx.com.My questions in this blog therefore are: Do such geographical differences qualify research in one part of the continent as either superior or inferior? How about our own personal dimensions when implanting and relaying such results in a cross-cultural environment like Austria? What about the position of Austria in the aspect of intercultural dimensions on research? By inter cultural dimensions here, I mean inter-cultural cooperation and the position of foreign researchers with respect to social integration within the Austrian society. |  Image: Photocase, User: cinematic |
The above questions, I believe, require a deep understanding of the fundamental socio-cultural influences in research – accessrx.com.In fact, to say the truth, I am not a professional student in this kind of research – accessrx.com.And even if I was, I would not want to use this blog to boggle our minds with conceptual answers, which in essence may not be agreed upon statistically. Accessrx.com: but on the other side, I want to believe that this blog is for us to disagree to agree on some of fundamental facts.Of course sometimes, theory does not conform to practice – accessrx.com.I will therefore attempt to use my international experience in research to address some of the questions raised above; accessrx.com.Let me begin this way: Research, whether in science or humanities is in itself a culture, perhaps with a lot of demands and expectations too.Like other cultures, it does happen in exclusivity – accessrx.com.In fact the first influences on research come from the tools and knowledge we have been equipped with over time – accessrx.com.Such tools may vary from region to region depending on the educational systems of each country.
Personally accessrx.com, I was brought up and educated in an environment where Universities were the highest level for degree and post graduate studies.In fact our Universities were further rated in categories, from best to good depending on many other factors; accessrx.com. Accessrx.com: polytechnics on the other hand were reserved for diploma courses.This is why someone who went through my system of education and does not have the experience of other systems around the globe may easily find it difficult to understand the equivalence of what is called diplomarbeirt in Austria. Accessrx.com: but do these regional differences justify our superiority in research? My rightful answer is a big No since I have worked with very good researchers in Austria who went through this system.However, when it comes to matters on inter-transfer of credits or course hours between these institutions, then it may be a bit cumbersome and administratively involving; accessrx.com. Accessrx.com: in general therefore, our different regional educational systems only serve to make life a little more complicated, especially at the global arena.In fact, the sooner we begin to market our individual systems or change to regionally standardized systems, the better.I know some Universities in Austria which have already began to offer Master degree courses instead of the diplomarbeirt under a new streamlined system – accessrx.com.This is a welcome gesture to international researchers and I guess it is a good gesture for a dynamic society.
I would be happy to share your opinions accessrx.com, suggestions and experiences? Critical comments and suggestions on this part 1 of my blog article are also highly welcome.In part 2, we will continue to address the questions raised above, and any other arising critic.
Luke OLANG
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12 Comments so far...
Mimi DiMello Says:
13 January 2009 at 1:56 pm.
Hallo, thank you so much for the interesting input.
I have some questions:
The first question is through which program did you come to Austria and from where?
I’m just curious to know about the requirements for students like you doing their studies in abroad. Did you had any barriers and how did you manage them?
The second question is about your work here in Vienna? How is your working environment in terms of other colleagues? What is the language you use to communicate?
The third question is a more personal. I would like to know how you spend your free time? Does the hosting organization organize some sort of coming together with other students also from Austria? Other cultural activities. What would you recommend to do better or different for students coming from the entire world to study in Austria to make their stay better, nicer, etc. from your experience?
Thank you some much for answering these questions. I’m not familiar to your research field but interested in the integration of foreign students/ researchers in Austria and what we can do to come together and exchange all kind of information face to face. I would like to meet foreign students to discuss on interesting topics or just go out for a cup of tea but don’t know how and where to find them…
Luke Says:
16 January 2009 at 6:37 pm.
Thank you for your questions and time MimiDiMello.
Q1: through which program did you come to Austria and from where?
I came to Austria to study Spatial Hydrology at the BOKU. This program is supported by the ÖAD (Österreichische Austauschdienst) and supports a broad spectrum of regions and students (http://www.oead.ac.at/_start/index_deutsch.html). Somehow, I happened to be one of them from Kenya. This is also where my citizenship lies.
Q2: Did you have any barriers and how did you manage them?
Definitely. In this life, there are very few areas where you will not find barriers. But just to take you back MimiDiMello, did you mean barriers before or after coming to Austria? I want to believe that the two forms are different. I almost assumed that you meant the challenges I faced, or still facing, since I came to Austria. But first, let me not assume this without your permission or clarrification?
Q3: About your work here in Vienna? Working environment in terms of other colleagues? And language of communication?
My work is entirely based at our BOKU Institute (http://www.wau.boku.ac.at/iwhw.html). As you can see from the web site, the main language in German. But one can also toggle to English. You can also find many courses here and there in English for non-German speakers. My colleagues at the Institute are superb. They are very instrumental and ready to help as long as I approach them with the due integrity. They are good guys out there. To make my point more clear, I generally think that not all of colleagues can be good to me. In fact I am also bound by principles. I also have to be good to them so that I can get it back. The Buck starts with me. For one to learn new things, I believe, one has to be curious (neugierig). I therefore have to play my parts politely, diligently and professionally, as they get to play theirs too. This way, we make and work as a team.
Q4: how do you spend your free time?
MimiDImello, let me put this jokingly. This is not only a personal question, but rather a very difficult personal question. I say this because I can answer this question in many, many lines. Nonetheless, I like social gatherings especially where I get to meet new people to share our true experiences. It is better to learn something about Kenya from a Kenyan than to hear it from CNN or any such similar means for that matter. Actually, this is my simple listen-talk philosophy. Traveling is my other way to spend my free days. Once in a while, our host institution or ÖAD do organize social events, which are also very encouraging. But these are rather incomparable to the many times i make an extra effort on personal basis.
Finally, allow me to address your last two questions after we somehow agree that the first four make some sort of sense!
Mimi DiMello Says:
20 January 2009 at 12:45 pm.
Q2: I want to believe that the two forms are different. I almost assumed that you meant the challenges I faced, or still facing, since I came to Austria. Yes, this is my question.
Q4: Do you have any ideas/suggestions how and where people from different backgrounds can come together to put your so called listen-talk philosophy in practice?
Thank’s again for the interesting inputs.
alive Says:
2 February 2009 at 1:14 pm.
Very interesting article!
Did you experience any borders/barriers between researchers because of nationality or language?
I presume you know the research-landscape in Kenia and Austria quite well – what are the real differences?
Is there a different way to start solving problems or develop research theories/strategies because of different cultural aspects or is it all the same?
Is the “western way” the universal one or are there other ways in order to achieve results/outcomes from your point of view?
Background: Europeans or people from the “West” tend to be very ego-centred and often are not very open to try different approaches. Is it the same everywhere or are southern societies more open-minded? (All in relation to research and science-communities.)
I am looking forward to read the next part of your blog!!!
Luke Says:
3 February 2009 at 9:30 am.
Thank you Alive and Mimi Dimello for your contributions.
Actually, before coming to Austria for my studies, my boss from the previous company where I worked was very concerned. He asked me if I knew something about Hitler, the great, and where he came from. I remember I was not a very good student of history and hence I did not know much about this guy. After a brief preamble from him, he finally asked me to take a lot of care, ‘since it can be bad down there’.
I think this brief discussion with him not only gave me a synopsis of how the world out there perceive Austria, but it also instilled in me the dire need for discipline during my studies. I am very sure most of us, out there, know more of such kind of stereotypes for different countries, regions and a people. Nonetheless, I was very cautious in what ever little thing I did, or rather, planned to do during my stay in Austria. Here were/are some of my challenges though:
• The first and most difficult challenge I found pertained to language barriers. Forget about speaking in the first place, I had never had the chance to even read Deutsch words after being brought up in an entirely different set up. Now, here I was, a stranger, who is not able to express himself. I think this brought some form of loneliness to me in the first few weeks and months. But somehow, I slowly began to discover my cocoon.
• The other challenge which I can remember pertains to the social perception or rather stigma about people of my origin. In some cases, it was easy to handle, since I could politely tell them off, whenever they asked me, that I don’t sell drugs. Period.
• The other issue, which I found, and sometimes still find difficult to comprehend is the perception amongst some researchers that studies from Africa are relatively easier if not inferior. Allow me to note that it is not only an Austrian perception, but rather broader problem within the research community where this kind of perception exists. Like, Alive (the second commenter) puts it; some researchers in the West tend to be ego centered. I guess, this requires a lot of diligence, time and hard work to change.
• Another problem about research studies in Austria is the time frame. I think that the current time frame of 3yrs for a researcher coming from another country, is sufficiently rigid and only for studies. Period.
This is good to some extent. But on the other side, it limits social integration. I remember in one of our discussion with students from other countries, there was a generally consensus that some studies are so curtailed, that they kind of look like tools for international relations.
aloah Says:
3 February 2009 at 7:49 pm.
Hi guys, thanks for this really interesting blog. And Luke, I really, really appreciate how honest and open you are about your experiences. This takes courage, so respect!
I am trying to say something about your original question:
Do such geographical differences qualify research in one part of the continent as either superior or inferior?
Well, I personally definitely would NOT think so. But actually, I think a lot of people still do, even if it is ‘only’ subconciously.
I think it happens as well among other groups of people working in development, the term itself already implying one of the major problems here.
Let me start a bit earlier, before I completely loose my argument. About 10years ago, I went to a so called developing country for the first time. All I could see was poverty and what I back then saw as chaos and incompetence – because my brain was so much conditioned into believing that the way we did things back home was just the best way of doing things.
So I sincerely believed I needed to do something to help these ‘poor peope’ to achieve a similar status as ‘we’ had. How embarrasingly stupid of me….There is NOTHING in the world that I could have done better than the farmers in the villages there, I probably would not have even survived one winter.
In hindsight I have to say, I feel really ashamed of myself.
So I guess what I am trying to say is if we would just all stop believing that our culture/science/beliefs/language whatever is better than everybody else’s, maybe we would develop a different attitude. But, as I have over the years come acrosss similar attitudes in Asia and Africa when it comes to other countries/peoples/cultures, I am starting to believe that even in that respect we all are the same. It is just an issue of power and neo-liberal/neo-colonial politics that some of us have stronger means of articulating this. Which makes me very sad.
But the fact that you guys are posting about these issues here means a lot to me! Keep going!
yes_we_can Says:
4 February 2009 at 12:11 pm.
aloah: yes, I also think it’s about being “ego-centered” (as alive mentioned) and not being open-minded for other ways. but to presume that all is about “power and neo-liberal/neo-colonial politics” is in my opinion a bit farfetched. for sure it is a component but it’s also about ignorance, lack of knowledge, indifferentism and a lot of other factors.
Luke:
1 Is it the same way with African researchers or did you experience a more open-minded attitude? In the aspect of being “ego-centered”.
2 Did your view of Austria change during your stay here or is it like you thought it would be? What do you think about the concerns of your former boss about you going to Austria?
This blog is a quite interesting example of inter-cultural debate!
aloah Says:
8 February 2009 at 10:59 pm.
hello yes_we_can,
i think you misunderstood the sentence: what I said was that power and politics makes it easier for some people to ARTICULATE certain attitudes and opinions than for others.
That does not mean that ONLY power and politics create these prejudices etc., that’s not what I said, and I would not want to say that – and it is indeed a different line of argument.
just for clarificatoin!
yes_we_can Says:
9 February 2009 at 10:56 am.
aloah aloah! 
You are right – I’m sorry!
Luke Says:
10 February 2009 at 8:50 pm.
Thank you guys for your nice contributions!
Before I get to post my second blog, allow me to give a short perspective on some of the issues raised above. I will start with the first question from yes_we_can.
I down-listed some of the challenges that I went through as a young researcher. I want to believe that this is a prototype of what other researchers go through during their initial stay. I have always exhibited self esteem, and a more open minded approach towards this ego-centrism. However, its an approach where many times, one has to go down, talk less, listen more, if you do understand this.
Secondly, my perception about Austria changed a lot. I think the society has a lot of potential. I think many things do change with generational changes. This is highly welcome.
To Aloe: Keep it up with the nice ideas. I also think that politics has some influence in a lot of decisions regarding integration of researchers within a given society.
Luke Says:
11 February 2009 at 6:15 pm.
Research and Inter-culture: Part I-Final Overview
Over the last couple of days, we dwelt on the social challenges facing a researcher, at least from a student perspective, undertaking his studies in Austria. My lessons were drawn from my own experiences, and in some cases, from the experiences of other people with whom we have exchanged ideas over the last three years or so. To wrap up this discussion, I think that many regions (provinces) within Austria score differently on the aspect of social integration of foreigners and foreign researchers. Vienna for instance, has made remarkable improvement on this aspect due to its wide and long history of social-cultural diversity. It score is therefore obviously incomparable to other regions within the country. Many a times, when we talk about the aspect of social integration, we tend to have our own references. This is because societies (social and legislative) are slowly dynamic systems. Inside these societies are the usually difficult individual roles, and experiences that each and every one of us has to play to hasten this change.
Identifying the right starting point to play our individual roles, whether in research or not, is a fundamentally difficult but important step in hastening this change in our societies. The fact that some Austrians tend to be skewed against foreigners is not anything of international particularity. It is only a matter of numbers. Each and every society tends to have some difficulties that a “researcher without boundary” has to overcome. The first question each and every one of us should ask him/herself is: What am I doing to positively change things around me? And secondly, what are we doing collectively to change things around? What is the starting point towards achieving impartiality in our societal, educational, job opportunities, families etc?
I have some few suggestions for foreign researchers:
(1) Personal initiatives
Changing a society begins with us, our perceptions, actions and wordings, especially when we talk to others of our caliber. Standing against partiality, defending it brightly when we talk to others, and leading by example is a pretty nice way to make others believe in us and follow suit. [Next time, I meet my previous boss; and any other interested party, I will let them know that Austria is a pretty good place and is no longer as dangerous as thought]. This because sometimes, the way we think, so we perceive and act. We can change that.
(2) Umbrella Institutions
One of the ways to bring researchers together is through development and enhancement of stronger umbrella organization. Most researchers do come from various parts of the globe and hence such institutions can help to socialize them. First, amongst themselves and later to the outside societies.
(3) Information Access
I think that good events do take place in Austria but without the knowledge and awareness of most researchers. The reason is simple, language barriers and others, both on the side of the event organizers and on the part foreign students or researchers for that matter. I know falter (www.falter.at) which has some good social joints in Austria. What about such a kind information, being easily made accessible?
(4) Many foreigners, researchers and non researcher, I mean of various calibers have common places where they get to meet regularly to socialize within their cohorts. I also know of students get together parties What about visiting one of such places to learn the cultures of others too?
Mimi DiMello Says:
13 February 2009 at 1:56 pm.
Hi Luke,
I really want to thank you for your very personal and interesting contribution, too. I think, that this platform is such a social place, although “only” virtual to learn each others experiences and observations. With the examples you gave it is much easier to understand what you mean.
I wish that other researchers could post more of such personal examples, so that one can understand and compare to his or her own experiences.
Wish you all the best, and i hope that you will help to change the (bad) image of Austria in Kenia…:)
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