Prof. Dr. Petra Barthelmess

Work at ZHAW

Position

• Head International Education
• Programme Director Master International Business
• Professorial Chair Culture and International Business

Focus

• Teaching, consulting, and research in the fields of political economy, international relations, intercultural competence, and communication in Bachelor's and Master's degree programs, continuing education courses, and executive education.
• Teaching, consulting and research in the fields of international business in emerging markets (with a focus on the Far East) and the cultural history of East Asia.

Professional development teaching

• CAS Foreign Affairs and Applied Diplomacy
• CAS Leading Change in International Business

Experience

Winner of Learning and Teaching Award
ZHAW School of Management and Law
2020 - today

Network

Awards

• ZHAW School of Management and Law Learning and Teaching Award 2020
  ZHAW School of Management and Law
  12 / 2020
• Finalist in the ZHAW Best Teaching Practice Award 2017 for the flipped classroom teaching concept in the module War Economics and Business in a Globalized World.
  ZHAW
  09 / 2017
• ZHAW Best Teaching Practice Award for the didactic concept Cultures and Civilizations
  ZHAW
  12 / 2011

Social media

Linkedin

Projects

• New edition and translation myStudybox / Team member / ongoing

Publications

Articles in scientific journal, peer-reviewed

• Meier, J. et al. (2026) 'Shifting sustainability values and voluntary simplicity orientations among Swiss University students between 2015 and 2023', Discover Sustainability, 7(305). doi: 10.1007/s43621-026-02731-x.
• Kendzia, M. J., Linder, L. and Barthelmess, P. Y. (2025) 'The rise of AI careers and curricular shifts in Swiss higher education', Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 12(102059). doi: 10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.102059.
• Barthelmess, P. et al. (2021) 'Preparing agile transformation : a framework for assessment of the organizational culture readiness', Journal of Applied Business and Economics, 23(6), pp. 232–246. doi: 10.33423/jabe.v23i6.4689.
• Yang Meier, D. et al. (2020) 'Wearable technology acceptance in health care based on national culture differences : cross-country analysis between Chinese and Swiss consumers', Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22(10), p. e18801. doi: 10.2196/18801.
• Müller Werder, C. et al. (2019) 'Editorial : Flexibles Lernen an Hochschulen gestalten', Zeitschrift für Hochschulentwicklung, 14(3), pp. 9–17. doi: 10.3217/zfhe-14-03/01.
• Barthelmess Röthlisberger, P. et al. (2018) 'Navigating ambiguity : distributive and integrative negotiation tactics in China', Central European Business Review, 7(2), pp. 21–43. doi: 10.18267/j.cebr.197.
• Luescher, R. et al. (2016) 'Conceptualizing creativity : general and cultural biases in Gough's creative personality scale', The Journal of Creative Behavior, 53(1), pp. 30–43. doi: 10.1002/jocb.160.
• Barthelmess Röthlisberger, P. et al. (2013) 'Different shades of green : a comparative study on nature relatedness and ecological consciousness among South Korean, Swiss, and Czech Students', Central European Business Review, 2(2), pp. 7–18. doi: 10.18267/j.cebr.41.
• Prandini, M., Vervoort Isler, P. and Barthelmess, P. (2012) 'Responsible management education for 21st century leadership', Central European Business Review, 1(2), pp. 16–22. doi: 10.18267/j.cebr.13.
• Barthelmess Röthlisberger, P. (2006) 'Raubschätze, Nazikonten und Bankgeheimnis : ein paar Überlegungen zu den Fakten und Gerüchten', Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Geschichte, 56(4), pp. 410–434. doi: 10.5169/seals-1691.

Books, peer-reviewed

• Barthelmess Röthlisberger, P. (2006) Tarnoperationen und Geheimgeschäfte auf dem Schweizer Finanzplatz : verdeckte deutsch-schweizerische Umgehungsgeschäfte und die Frage der nationalsozialistischen Täterkonten im Zweiten Weltkrieg. Doctoral dissertation. Universität Zürich.
• König, M. et al. (2001) Tarnung, Transfer, Transit : die Schweiz als Drehscheibe verdeckter deutscher Operationen (1939-1952). Zürich: Chronos.

Book chapters, peer-reviewed

Barthelmess, P. Y. (2025) 'Culture comparative research as a possible approach to transdisciplinary thinking', in Schüz, M. (ed.) Transdisciplinary thinking and acting. Cham: Springer, pp. 205–223. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-70680-6_11.

Written conference contributions, peer-reviewed

• Björck, A. and Barthelmess, P. (2020) 'The role of organizational culture for creating understanding and trust through internal crisis communication', in Proceedings of the International Crisis and Risk Communication Conference. Nicholson School of Communication and Media, pp. 17–20. doi: 10.30658/icrcc.2020.4.
• Barthelmess, P. et al. (2020) 'Organizational culture readiness for agile', in 20th EURAM Annual Conference, Dublin, Ireland, 4-6 December 2020.
• Björck, A. and Barthelmess, P. (2019) 'Internal crisis communication and corporate culture : forging the links', in ERAZ 2019 Conference Proceedings. Association of Economists and Managers of the Balkans, pp. 215–222. doi: 10.31410/ERAZ.2019.215.

Other publications

• Wu, J. et al. (2025) 'Exportschlager Textilmaschine: Das war einmal. Wird sie es wieder?', Die Volkswirtschaft. doi: 10.21256/zhaw-32852.
• Barthelmess, P. and Hirt, T. (2013) 'Fit für die Herausforderungen der multikulturellen Gesellschaft? : interkulturelle Kompetenz im Polizeialltag', Police, 2013(5).
• Barthelmess Röthlisberger, P. (2012) 'Switzerland, the beautiful : swiss image abroad', Competence, 2012(1), pp. 19–21. doi: 10.21256/zhaw-4362.
• Barthelmess, P., Hannich, F. and Weissert, S. (2011) Swiss-South Korean comparative study on image perception and ecological orientation. Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA.
• Barthelmess Röthlisberger, P. (2003) 'Der 11. September und seine Auswirkungen auf die innere Sicherheit : eine sicherheitspolitische und rechtsstaatliche Herausforderung für die Schweiz', Bulletin zur schweizerischen Sicherheitspolitik, pp. 129–158. Available at: http://www.css.ethz.ch/content/dam/ethz/special-interest/gess/cis/center-for-securities-studies/pdfs/Bulletin_2003-11_September_und_innere_Sicherheit.pdf.
• Barthelmess, P. (2002) 'Risikogesellschaft auf der Suche nach Sicherheit', Schweizer Monat, 81/82(12/1). Available at: https://www.e-periodica.ch/digbib/view?pid=smh-002%3A2002%3A82%3A%3A28#59.
• Barthelmess Röthlisberger, P. Y. (2002) 'Transnationale organisierte Kriminalität : ordnungspolitische Eingriffe auf internationaler Ebene und in der Schweiz', Bulletin zur schweizerischen Sicherheitspolitik, pp. 27–61. Available at: http://www.css.ethz.ch/content/dam/ethz/special-interest/gess/cis/center-for-securities-studies/pdfs/Bulletin_2002-Transnationale_organisierte_Kriminalitaet.pdf.

Oral conference contributions and abstracts

• Barthelmess, P. (2017) 'Wissenschaftlichkeit und kultureller Hintergrund : vielfältige Perspektiven zu Ostasien als Kultur- und Wirtschaftsraum', in Best Teaching - Best Practices 2017: Vermittlung von Wissenschaftlichkeit, Winterthur, 6. September 2017.
• Barthelmess, P. (2012) 'World Expo Symposium Nachhaltigkeit fördern : Initiativen für eine grünere Zukunft', in Symposium SML (World Expo 2012), Winterthur, 15. Mai 2012.
• Barthelmess, P. (2012) 'Drivers of green innovation and entrepreneurship : Korean and Swiss initiatives in the new world of business', in Symposium Sungkyunkwan (World Expo 2012), Seoul, Korea, 3 April 2012.

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