German Academic Programs In Technical Communication    

While research in international technical communication has flourished during the last 10 years, there has been little published on technical communication programs outside the United States. This article addresses this need by describing 12 representative academic technical communication programs in Germany, including Germany's first master's degree program. While there are no statistics on the number of technical communicators working in Germany, tekom (Gesellschaft für technische Kommunikation), the German professional society for technical communication, estimates roughly 4,400 members. While German academic programs in technical communication share many features with their counterparts in the United States, German academic programs do stress internships, foreign language study, and study abroad exchange programs more than technical communication programs in the United States.

Smith, Herb J. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication (2004). Articles>Education>Regional>Germany

German Academic Programs in Technical Communication  

In June 2000, FORUM 2000 was held in London. As the founding member of INTECOM, one of the sponsors of the FORUM conferences, Germany has experienced a major growth in the technical communication profession. As of 1999, there were more than 2000 members in tekom, the German Society for Authors and Writers of Technical Documentation (5). Likewise the number of institutions offering technical communication programs is growing. In 1991, Fachhochschule Hannover began offering the first technical communication program. The purpose of this article is to describe some representative German technical communication programs.

Smith, Herb J. STC Proceedings (2001). Academic>Education>Regional>Germany

Paper and Electronic Portfolios: Saleskits for Technical Communicators in the Twenty-First Century  

In the twenty-first century, technical communicators are discovering that portfolios (electronic and/or paper) are indispensable career tools. Portfolios have many uses because they contain a variety of documents that have been developed with the tools and skills claimed on the resume. In addition, portfolios can be instrumental in getting a promotion or winning a contract.

Smith, Herb J. STC Proceedings (2002). Careers>Portfolios>Consulting