Lugo: Reflection & Feedback

Workshop in Lugo - Reflection on Intercultural Teamwork

Beyond our practical documentation and creative projects, our international mobility week in Lugo called for a deeper look into the dynamics of collaboration. Before wrapping up, participants completed an individual reflection survey and engaged in structured group discussions analyzing their teamwork through established frameworks—specifically Tuckman's four team phases (Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing) and the cultural dimensions of Hall, Hall, and Hofstede. Below, you will find the evaluated results of the reflection survey alongside the concise four-sentence "Making-Of" summaries written by each team to capture their overall group experience.

• Group 1 (The perfect day in Lugo) Making-Of Summary: "Working as a three-person team proved to be a balanced, highly collaborative experience that allowed us to divide responsibilities efficiently while maintaining clear communication. By leveraging our individual strengths, we navigated project challenges smoothly and consistently met our deadlines without overwhelming any single member. While minor creative differences occasionally arose, our small group size made it easy to talk through solutions quickly and reach consensus. Overall, it was a rewarding journey that enhanced both our technical output and our interpersonal teamwork skills."

• Group 2 (The taste of the region) Making-Of Summary: " 1. Getting to Know Each Other: We got to know each other better through our city, food, and beach tours in Ravenna; 2. Overcoming Challenges: We faced some difficult moments at the market, but we communicated, supported each other, and found solutions as a team; 3. Sharing Tasks:We shared the project tasks equally, including planning, video editing, and writing content for the website; 4. Future Plans: We hope to stay connected, continue learning from each other, and work together on future international projects; "

• Group 3 (Promotional video) Making-Of Summary: "Our three-member team quickly progressed through each project phase by leveraging our individual strengths. We resolved early creative debates over video clips and music through direct, open communication. Respecting different cultural work styles enabled us to balance our editor's technical expertise with equal team input. Moving forward, we learned to set clear creative goals early and trust each other’s unique skills."

• Group 4 (The soul of the city) Making-Of Summary: "During the Forming phase, the four-person team introduced themselves, explored Lugo, and agreed on investigating its people and atmosphere through interviews and video observation. During the Storming phase, disagreement over a structured versus spontaneous approach was resolved by adopting a hybrid method combining both. During the Norming phase, roles and responsibilities were assigned and clear rules for communication, consent, punctuality, and data handling were established. During the Performing phase, the team worked efficiently and independently, integrating their diverse backgrounds to create a coherent portrayal of the 'souls of Lugo.' "

The numerical metrics responses from the reflection survey offer valuable insights into the participants' personal takeaways, collaborative learning experiences, and key recommendations for future teamwork. 

Beyond the numerical metrics, the open-ended responses and qualitative feedback from the reflection survey offer valuable insights into the participants' personal takeaways, collaborative learning experiences, and key recommendations for future teamwork. 

Valuable Personal Takeaways: Participants highlighted that working in mixed, international environments significantly expanded their creative horizons. Key takeaways included learning how diverse cultural backgrounds, multi-generational perspectives, and varied professional skill sets foster more innovative problem-solving and dynamic teamwork. Many participants emphasized the value of open communication, active compromise, and discovering that effective collaboration successfully transcends language barriers.

Lessons for Future International Projects („Same & Change“): When asked what they would replicate or modify in future teamwork, participants overwhelmingly agreed on maintaining an open, friendly atmosphere and embracing diverse opinions. At the same time, constructive feedback pointed to the need for establishing clear task definitions, precise deadlines, and structured action plans right from the start. Additionally, participants emphasized the importance of maintaining an inclusive communication environment in English across all mixed groups to ensure everyone stays fully engaged and aligned.

Overall Course Feedback & Evaluation

To ensure the continuous high quality of our Erasmus+ project weeks and future international encounters, all participants evaluated the overall course. This comprehensive feedback survey captured participant experiences regarding the project goals, daily organization, digital workshops, venue atmosphere, and overall coordination. Below are the aggregated results of the general evaluation survey.

Beyond quantitative metrics, the open-ended responses and qualitative feedback provide a deeper look into the participants' personal experiences, learning curves, and intercultural perceptions, capturing the true qualitative impact and atmosphere of the project week. 

1. What did you particularly like?

• Intercultural & International Approach: Working within multicultural teams and experiencing the exchange across different generations, diverse nationalities (Germany, Italy, Turkey, Pakistan, Ghana, and Bangladesh), and genders was perceived as exceptionally enriching.

• Creative Freedom & Local Integration: The high degree of autonomy and creative freedom in designing the digital cultural blog, combined with the outstanding support and guidance from the Italian local guides.

• Atmosphere & Framework: The shared beach day, vibrant social interactions, exploration of culinary heritage, and comfortable accommodations featuring individual rooms for participants.

2. What did you like less or what should be expanded/changed for future projects?

• Work-Life Balance & Time Management: Suggestions for slightly more leisure time or extended periods to relax at the beach or pool amidst a demanding project schedule.

• Technology & Equipment: Feedback indicated that professional equipment (such as cameras and gimbals) involved a steeper learning curve, whereas smartphone workflows were faster initially—pointing to a desire for more introductory technical onboarding.

• Language Dynamics within Teams: A crucial insight regarding working languages: in some groups, German was frequently spoken during fast-paced discussions, occasionally leaving international participants feeling excluded. This highlights the vital importance of maintaining a strictly English working environment across all mixed teams.

• Pre-Project Networking: The wish to establish digital touchpoints between international team members prior to physical mobility (e.g., during preparatory phases in Kulmbach) to streamline the initial "Storming" phase on-site.

3. General Comments & Wishes

Participants expressed overwhelming gratitude and enthusiasm through their closing remarks:

"Best week of the year!" "Thank you very much for making this valuable experience possible!" "Everything here was a really a great experience. I wish for other future opportunities to learn more. Thank you."