From 1^st to 5^th June 2026, the Department of Social Sciences and Languages welcomed Associate Professor Ștefania Bumbuc, PhD from the “Nicolae Bălcescu” Land Forces Academy in Sibiu, Romania, who carried out a teaching mobility at Armed Forces Academy of General M. R. Šwithin the framework of the ERASMUS+ Programme.

During her stay, she delivered a lecture for first-year students of the Military Information and Communication Systems (VSIS) and Electronic Weapon Systems (EZS) study programmes on the topic “Counterproductive Effects of Teamwork.”

The lecture focused on identifying and analysing factors that may negatively affect team performance. Associate Professor Bumbuc introduced students to the most common challenges of teamwork, including groupthink, social loafing, inefficient decision-making under time pressure, changes in individual behaviour across different teams, the Apollo Syndrome, hierarchical constraints, and excessive team homogeneity. She also presented practical measures and tools that can help prevent these phenomena and improve the effectiveness of teamwork.

The lecture included an interactive activity in which students discussed and argued different viewpoints while solving a model situation. This teaching method encouraged critical thinking, the ability to defend personal opinions, and effective communication within a group.

Throughout the mobility, the visiting lecturer was accompanied by Second Lieutenant Mgr. Barbora Hurtuková, PhD, who coordinated the professional programme and mobility activities.

The lecture received very positive feedback from the students. Gabriel Kaňuk appreciated that the lecture highlighted the causes of conflicts in teamwork, such as poor communication and differing opinions, while also presenting practical ways to prevent them through clear task allocation and mutual respect. According to him, the lecture was both educational and engaging, particularly due to the final interactive activity.

Roman Haring especially valued the practical insights into the disadvantages of teamwork, including the Apollo Syndrome and unequal participation of team members. He also positively evaluated the recommendations on how to avoid such problems and apply the acquired knowledge in future professional practice. He considered the final discussion-based activity highly beneficial, as it promoted communication, argumentation, and active participation of all attendees.

The visit of Associate Professor Ștefania Bumbuc represented a significant contribution to the internationalisation of the educational process and provided students with valuable insights into teamwork, leadership, and group decision-making. The mobility also contributed to the further development of cooperation between the General Milan Rastislav Štefánik Armed Forces Academy and the “Nicolae Bălcescu” Land Forces Academy in Sibiu, Romania.