Research
Research at the International University SDI München
At the International University SDI München, research is at the heart of everything we do. Closely intertwined with teaching, it forms a key pillar of our research strategy. This strong link between research and teaching means our students are introduced to academic methods in a hands-on and accessible way. At the same time, the latest research findings feed directly into our teaching content, complementing the practical orientation of our degree programmes with a solid academic foundation.
Alongside interdisciplinary and collaborative research, our university places a strong emphasis on specialised research clusters. Working closely with partner institutions, we actively engage in externally funded projects that drive innovation and deliver new academic insights with real-world impact. We also collaborate with universities, businesses and organisations — including partners in the healthcare sector — to further develop our research in a way that is practical, applied and relevant to society.
Research focus areas
Research focus areas
Sustainable Transformation
The Chair of Innovation and Sustainability Management conducts research in the field of sustainable transformation, leading to numerous publications and conference contributions. Currently, an externally funded project in partnership with Quadriga University of Applied Sciences Berlin is investigating the potential impact of supervisory boards on the sustainable transformation of publicly listed companies.
Shared Leadership
The Chair of Intercultural Coaching, Consulting and Leadership explores the topic of shared leadership, a field that has been further developed since 2024. One of the central research questions is how shared leadership can benefit multicultural teams. This area of research is integrated into the Master’s degree programme in Intercultural Communication on multiple levels, with particular emphasis on engaging students in the research process.
Migration and International Mobility
The Chair of Cultural and Business Communication explores various aspects of temporary and labour-related mobility as part of its research focus on migration and international mobility. Topics include international collaboration in virtual teams and the mobility of skilled professionals. These issues are being investigated as part of the externally funded MentesMigrantes project and other initiatives led by the Chair.
AI and Digital Media
Research in the field of AI and digital media, led by the Chair of International Media Communication and the Chair of Digital Communication and Change, focuses on how communication can be shaped in line with strategic and regulatory frameworks. Key areas of investigation include the use of AI in customer analysis, persona development, and business model innovation.
AI and plain language are the focus of a joint interdisciplinary research initiative involving the Chairs of International Media Communication and Digital Communication and Change, as well as the Chair of Human-Centred Strategy & User Experience.
Ethics in AI, User Experience and Human-Centred Design
Ongoing research at the Chair of Human-Centred Strategy & User Experience explores methods and frameworks aimed at professionalising UX practice. This includes contributing to the standardisation and harmonisation of terminology and conceptual frameworks at both international (ISO) and national (DIN) levels.
The Chair of Intercultural Coaching, Consulting and Leadership and the Chair of Digital Communication and Change are jointly engaged in interdisciplinary research on ethical frameworks and paradigms in light of recent developments in artificial intelligence. Particular attention is given to the relationship between AI and creativity, as well as to information behaviour on social media.
Neural Machine Translation and Large Language Models
Research in Neural Machine Translation (NMT) and Large Language Models (LLMs) explores how terminology can be integrated into the training of translation engines. The Chair of Applied Linguistics and the Chair of Translation and Terminology Management lead initiatives in this area. A wide range of projects, seminar papers, Master’s theses and studies are developed as part of this research focus.
Spanish as a Heritage Language
Research on Spanish as a heritage language has a long tradition in the United States but is still relatively new in Europe, particularly in Germany. Since 2015, the Chair of Spanish has increasingly focused on this topic in both research and research-led teaching, including through a dedicated specialisation module in the MA in Spanish as a Foreign Language (MA ELE). Several Master’s theses on this subject have already been completed or are currently underway.
Research on Teaching Internships
Teaching internships are a key element in the training of future language teachers, as they often represent the first opportunity to engage with real classroom settings. The Chair of Spanish has been actively researching this area for several years. Findings feed into various publications, the externally funded DCP_Tusele project, and the teaching of the MA ELE.
Language Mediation and Chinese Language Didactics
The research focus on language mediation and Chinese language didactics at the Chair of Chinese offers students deeper insights into regional, cultural, and social language variations, with a particular emphasis on language geography. Special attention is given to literary texts and their linguistic varieties, taking into account cultural, social, and historical contexts.
Online Didactics
In the area of online didactics, the Chair of Language Competence and Didactics and the Chair of Technical Communication are developing modular learning units for linguistics, translation studies, and interpreting studies.
