Erasmus Professional Development: JAM Staff Members Sabrina Hauser & Patrick Meerwald in Valencia, Spain for Project Management

By Sabrina Hauser and Patrick Meerwald

As part of the Erasmus+ program for higher education staff, Sabrina Hauser (Administration and Event Management) and Patrick Meerwald (Head of Marketing and PR) traveled to the Spanish coastal metropolis of Valencia for one week. The goal: professional development in project management that not only provided technical insights but also strengthened JAM’s international networking spirit.

Theory Meets Practice: The Training

Working within a highly motivated international group of 11 participants from 9 nations, theoretical foundations were applied directly to the individual challenges of the participants. The program was divided into two main thematic areas:

Block 1: Leadership & Communication

This section focused on the "soft skills" that often determine the success or failure of a project:

• Lateral Leadership & Motivation: How do you motivate teams without traditional hierarchies? A key takeaway was the realization that individual motivational paths are as diverse as the team members themselves.
• Communication Tools: Using methods such as Active Listening and the Dialogic Orientation Quadrant, communication skills within the academic context were refined.
• Change Management: Based on case studies—many drawn directly from the participants' daily work—strategies were developed to efficiently support change processes within university structures.

Block 2: Tools and PM Theory

The second part was dedicated to the hard facts and tools of project planning:

• Traditional Management: Milestone planning, work packages, and risk assessments formed the foundation.
• Agile Work in a VUCA World: In a world characterized by Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity, agile methods were discussed.
• Digital Tools: The daily agenda included the practical application of tools like Trello, Jira, and ProjectLibre, as well as the design of Gantt charts.

Cultural Highlight: Las Fallas

During their stay, Valencia showed its loudest and most colorful side: it was time for the Las Fallas festival. This UNESCO World Heritage event transformed the city into a sea of parades and fireworks. Particularly impressive was the finale, La Cremà: on the night of March 19th, the massive papier-mâché figures—some several stories high—that had decorated the streets were burned before thousands of spectators. It is a spectacular symbol of saying goodbye to the old and welcoming the beginning of spring.

Visiting Alumnus Elias Hafner at Berklee

A special highlight was the visit with a successful face of JAM: Elias Hafner. After completing his Bachelor’s degree in Media Music at JAM, he is now continuing his academic career at the renowned Berklee Valencia.

Amidst the futuristic architecture of the Ciutat de les Arts i de les Ciències, Elias spoke about his Master’s studies and how his education at JAM MUSIC LAB Private University prepared him for the international stage. It was an inspiring exchange that demonstrates the global paths open to our graduates.

Conclusion

The week in Valencia was a perfect blend of professional development and intercultural inspiration. The new impulses in project management will be integrated into the work of both colleagues at JAM, while the newly established contacts will continue to drive the internationalization of our university forward.