Prof. Dr. David Rapp

My Story International

Short presentation

Name: Prof. Dr. David Rapp

Home country: Frankreich / Deutschland

Home university: Institut Supérieur de Gestion (ISG) | Paris

Department at Trier University of Applied Sciences: Business School

Field of study: Business Valuation Case Studies

Teaching area: Business

Stay: October / November 2023

"This time has once again confirmed that I am at home in research and teaching and that working as a professor is my vocation".

Has the experience enriched your teaching methods? Will you take new teaching approaches home with you?

I generally make use of a broad portfolio of teaching formats, including flipped classrooms, case studies and simulations of real-life decision-making problems. My teaching in Trier has encouraged me to select the appropriate teaching format depending on the context, i.e. in light of the subject and group size.

Did you encounter any challenges or obstacles during your time abroad, and how did you overcome them?

Because I come from Germany myself, German is my mother tongue and I had an excellent contact person at Trier University in Mr. Weimann, I did not encounter any particular challenges or even obstacles. The guest lectureship went smoothly and I am grateful to everyone involved for their contribution to the success of the project.

Are there major differences between the two universities or countries in terms of teaching or research approaches?

I don't see any major differences in the teaching context. We also have an exceptionally good supervision ratio at the ISG and rely on innovative teaching formats. Research is an important pillar of the ISG. For this reason, the teaching load is lower than is often the case in Germany, so that there is sufficient time and freedom for internationally visible research, which is aligned with the standard international ABS journal rankings.

Please briefly describe your teaching or research project.

During my stay, which lasted several weeks, I gave the lecture "Business Valuation Case Studies."

What is the added value to a guest lectureship abroad and what is exciting to you about it?

I see the added value of my guest lectureship particularly in building a bridge between the ISG and Trier University of Applied Sciences, which could ideally lead to further exchanges in the future, both at student and professorial level. Interacting with international colleagues is my daily bread at the ISG. In this respect, after a few years of abstinence in Germany, it was not least about experiencing the peculiarities of the German university system anew and gaining experience that will also be useful to me abroad.

How did you come to the decision to do a guest lectureship stay abroad?

I am always interested in international cooperation in higher education, as is the Institut Supérieur de Gestion (ISG). I decided to stay in Germany to further expand my existing networks. I am not only connected to Trier University of Applied Sciences through a previous teaching assignment, but also through contact with my academic brother, Prof. Dr. Matthias Weimann, who developed the idea of a guest stay together with me.

What advice do you have for other lecturers/scientists who would like to do a guest lectureship or research stay abroad?

Because of my background, the guest lectureship in Trier was certainly more predictable and with fewer potential stumbling blocks than can be the case with foreign colleagues. In this respect, I cannot give any specific advice that I could derive from my specific stay. In general, however, I would recommend finding out as much as possible about the host institution and the city in question, simply so that your expectations are as close as possible to what you will encounter there. Disappointments are then much rarer and positive surprises are inevitable.

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