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At the end of the course, students will be able to successfully use the skills trained in the course in their university and (later) professional life.

Motivating, persuading, convincing, negotiating
Communication with people requires, among others, the skill to direct and influence their attitudes, emotions, thoughts and actions. The objective is not to make people do something against their will, but to use efficient methods for modifying the actions, thoughts and work patterns of those involved. Making people "see your point and agree to it" requires solid knowledge of how those patterns work and how they can be changed. Students will be introduced to the possibilities offered by mindsetting, persuasion techniques, self-fulfilling prophesies, context shaping, attention getters and expectation management. Following the principles of "Content and Language Integrated Learning", students will, at the same time, improve their English language skills in a "natural" way.

Toolbox of skills
In addition to the central skills mentioned above, students will get a glimpse of other advanced techniques. For the rich field of possibilities see www.mindtools.com. Teams of students will pick one of these skills and prepare a short introductory session for their colleagues.

After a very short introduction to the theoretical basis of the skills above, students will train them in class intensively. active participation and training are the most central aspects of the class, involving discussions, group work, facilitated meetings, simulations and case studies worked out in small teams.

The student's ongoing participation in class, smaller homework assignments, independent background research, and the introductory skills presentation in class will be used to assess the student's performance. Regular attendance is required.

Tailor-made training materials will be made available to students.

Enrollment in one of the Master Programs offered at the University of Innsbruck. English language skills reflecting the school-leaving certificate of secondary schools in Austria ("Matura" level).