tekom - Europe

International University Network in Technical Communication

Organised by the tekom Europe Advisory Board for Professional Development and Training

Your participation in the International University Network inTechnical Communication is free of charge.

To join the IUNTC mailing list, contact Dr Daniela Straub (d.straubdontospamme@gowaway.tekom.de) or
Dr Yvonne Cleary (yvonne.clearydontospamme@gowaway.ul.ie).

 

 

Current events

“AI in practice"

Dear IUNTC members,

we are very pleased to announce that the next meeting of the International University Network in Technical Communication will be on Thursday, 25th of April at 4 PM (Central European Summer Time).

The IUNTC event "AI in Practice" invites you to discuss the important topic of how AI is already being used in TC practice. The event starts with two keynote speeches by Claudia Sistig and Prof. Dr. Rössler, moderated by Prof. Sissi Closs, and invites you to participate in a lively exchange afterwards, discussing the questions:

  • What can be done by AI
  • What has to be done by humans
  • Consequences for job profiles

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To participate, please contact Yvonne Cleary:  Yvonne.Cleary(at)ul.ie

We hope you can participate!

The IUNTC Program 2024

We are very pleased to announce that there are several meetings of the International University Network in Technical Communication will take place.

For 2024, the IUNTC is once again offering an interesting and varied program on different topics and in different formats, from lectures to presentations of research projects and results, discussion panels with input speeches and much more on methods, research and teaching in technical communication and related fields.

What? Title

Who? Speaker

When?  Date

Human augmentation for AI in Technical Communication

In the talk, I plan to discuss practical ways for technical and professional communicators to engage in ethical AI development using familiar approaches such as User experience design, Human-in-the-loop using AI augmentation and Communicating for AI transparency. 

Nupoor Ranade, George Mason University - USThursday, 29th of February 3:30 PM 
AI in practice: balancing benefits and challenges: Example where/how AI is already used in the information development/translation process. 

The IUNTC event "AI in Practice" invites you to discuss the important topic of how AI is already being used in TC practice. The event starts with two keynote speeches by Claudia Sistig and Prof. Dr. Rössler, moderated by Prof. Sissi Closs, and invites you to participate in a lively exchange afterwards.

Claudia Sistig, Compart GmbH - Germany
Prof. Dr.Patrick Rössler - University of Erfurt - Germany
Moderation: Prof. Sissi Closs. Karlsruhe University - Germany

Thursday, 25th of April at 4 PM 

The Process Is Not the Job: A Technical Writer's Journey in a Regulated Industry

"What does it mean for an expert technical writer to work for the first time in his career in a highly-regulated industry without any previous specific training?
This presentation will share the story of my four-and-a-half-year journey in the medical device industry—a tale of challenges, learning, and a quest to uncover the true nature of the job." 
 

Gianni Angelini, Senior technical writer - Ireland Thursday 23th of Mai at 3 PM 
Empirical research methods in translationCaiwen Wang, University of Westminster - UKWednesday 12th of June at 3 PM 

The online meetings lasts one hour.

They will be held on zoom - click here to join.

Meeting-ID 534 482 5910

Code 04711

Find detailed information about the online meetings here

That was the first IUNTC in person meeting

Why taking partin the International University Network in Technical Communication

Would you like to join?

Your participation in the International University Network in Technical Communication is free of charge.

Information about Data Privacy and the Conditions of participation

An agenda for your benefit

The purpose of this International University Network in Technical Communication is to support university teachers and staff who already run, or are interested in developing programmes or modules in technical communication: through this network they will be able to exchange experience and ideas for launching or strengthening their programmes, or for research projects.

The network will facilitate online meetings, mentoring partnerships, and research projects and dissemination of university teachers and staff throughout Europe.

We meet regularly, about every 6 to 8 weeks in one-hour online meetings. Anyone who wants to can contribute a topic. We work in different formats: presentations, presentation of research projects and results, discussion rounds with input presentations, exchange of potential project partners, clarification of questions and concerns and much more.

Whoever wants to can actively contribute here or just take part.

The network is also relevant for teachers and staff in related disciplines, such as engineering, language studies, computer science, marketing, and communication studies. 

A working group of the tekom Europe Advisory Board for Professional Development and Training is responsible for running the network and organizing meetings or events. The network was first established as an Advisory Board project in March 2020.

So far, the working group includes universities from more than 30 countries, from Europe and worldwide, including China, Austria, Belgium, China, Czechia, Danmark, Finland, France, Great Britain, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Romania, the US and other countries. 

You are welcome to join any network meetings that interest you.

Our next network meeting will take place online. If your are interested to join, get in touch with us: d.straub@tekom.de

Why is the network necessary?

Throughout the world, millions of people work in technical communication roles, but the profession is still not very well known. 

Technical communication education is at different stages of development in each European country. 

In many European countries, no academic programmes are offered in technical communication.

The TecCOMFrame project identified ways to increase the number of programmes offered, and developed resources for people who are interested in designing modules or full programmes. This network follows on from that project. 
 

Benefits for all

Benefits for universities:
Universities involved in this network will be able to create opportunities for students and will attract more visibility and higher participation in technical communication modules and programmes.

Benefits for students:
This network will help universities to develop and offer modules and programmes in technical communication. This is a growing field, with work opportunities for students with interdisciplinary skills, especially skills in languages, media, communication, and technology.

Benefits for industry:
This network will help to meet the recruitment needs of companies operating in the field of technical communication, by training graduates to meet the labour market shortage, and by helping young people seeking job opportunities in technological and innovative contexts.

What is technical communication?

According to the tekom Europe definition, “technical communication is the process of defining, creating and delivering information products for the safe, efficient and effective use of products (technical systems, software, services).”

This video shows a typical working day in the life of a technical writer at a large software company.