Experience Reports & Best Practices

Insights into Erasmus+ lecturer mobility

International Design Week in Graz

The International Design Week at the Institute for Design & Communication (external link, opens in a new window) at FH JOANNEUM in Graz was a colourful and creative event. Under the theme ‘Mutate or Mute’, guest lecturers from 12 partner universities in 8 countries, including Spain, Israel, Georgia and Mexico, were invited from 5 to 12 May.

The programme included guest lectures and workshops for the institute's 150 bachelor's and master's students. Prof. Melanie Beisswenger from the Media Design programme worked with the students on the topic of metamorphoses in animation.

Whether new to animation or already experienced, the students created wonderful, serious and entertaining clips in stop motion, 2D and 3D animation. On the last day, the students presented the results of all the workshops to the public at the “Kunsthaus Graz” (external link, opens in a new window) as part of Design Month Graz 2023.

Insight into Erasmus+ staff mobility

Do you speak English? - Staff mobility in Galway, Ireland

‘I believe that it never hurts to look beyond your own horizons, to venture out of your comfort zone to see how things work in other countries. Do they work just as well, do they work better, or do they simply work differently? That's a very important point for me.’

Silke Gausche reports on her experiences and impressions of her staff mobility in Galway, Ireland.

Message in a bottle from Portugal – 13th International Week at the Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal

From 26 to 30 June 2023, our partner university, the Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal in Portugal, invited lecturers, researchers, and staff from the International Offices to attend the thirteenth International Week. As part of the Erasmus+ staff mobility programme, I engaged in constructive and personal exchanges with our colleagues from the local International Office (CIMOB) and the School of Education and the School of Business and Administration's mobility coordinators. Topics discussed included: InterAct scholarships for IPS incoming students; a project proposal presentation in the field of entrepreneurship and international internships; an exchange of positive experiences with Erasmus BIPs; and, most importantly, extending the existing Erasmus agreement to the Sports Management programme, which could be implemented immediately.

Alongside exciting presentations and networking with international and national colleagues, the intercultural exchange included a visit to a winery with tastings of regional specialities.

My conclusion is that: Staff mobility is about more than just ‘thinking outside the box’. Exchanging ideas with international colleagues helps to expand and consolidate cooperation, simplify processes and enrich individuals.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all IPS colleagues for their warm welcome and support!

‘Next Education – at the cutting edge of healthcare professions’ – Excursion to the Learning Worlds Congress in Innsbruck, Tyrol

‘Next Education – at the cutting edge of healthcare professions’ was the motto of this year's Lernwelten Congress (https://www.lernwelten.info/). The Lernwelten Congress is a practical event that brings together science and practice in healthcare education. This year, it took place in Innsbruck, Tyrol.

Excursion to Innsbruck: Together with thirteen students from the Master's programme ‘Vocational Education for Healthcare Professions’, the faculty team, consisting of Stina-Katharina Treseler, Prof. Dr. Sandra Tschupke, Prof. Dr. Ilka Benner and Erpho Bell, travelled to Innsbruck to attend the congress.

This year, the faculty participated with three poster presentations (from left to right):

Contribution 1, entitled 'Improving participation in healthcare: anchoring diversity competence in the curricula of training and study programmes', is by Prof. Dr. Ilka Benner (together with Maria Barthel from HAWK – Health Campus Göttingen, Dr. Doreen Müller from the University of Göttingen, and Dr. Christin Scheidler from HAWK – Health Campus Göttingen).

Contribution 2, by Stina-Katharina Treseler and Prof. Dr. Sandra Tschupke, is entitled 'Heuristic approach to the growth mindset as a theory for a creative approach to change processes'.

Contribution 3, by Janine Klänelschen, is entitled 'Video debriefing in paramedic training: curricular integration based on subject-specific didactic principles'.

The participants enjoyed two diverse and interesting days at fh gesundheit in a beautiful setting right on the banks of the Inn River. "The learning worlds demonstrate the diversity of research in the individual health professions and teaching. They also encourage us to present our own ideas and results on the international stage. We were able to take many new thoughts and impressions back with us to Wolfsburg,' said Laura Windhorst and Janine Klänelschen, who are studying for a Master's degree.

International visibility through participation in the IACIS Conference 2023 in Florida, USA

Prof. Dr. Markus Launer from the Faculty of Business and Social Work at Ostfalia University successfully participated in the renowned IACIS Conference 2023 in Florida, USA. During the event, he presented a scientific paper that had previously been reviewed and accepted by a review team.

Participation in the IACIS Conference has significantly contributed to Ostfalia's scientific visibility. Valuable insights and contacts were gathered for research in the fields of digital trust (DigVert) and intuition (RHIA). These will be used, among other things, to implement current ERDF research projects. In addition, discussions were held on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Warsaw University of Life Sciences, which will enable future cooperation in research.

Excursion to the Festival de Robotique in Cachan (Paris)

Following a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Faculty of Computer Science organised another trip to Cachan, Paris, from 8 to 12 June 2022, where three Ostfalia teams participated in the Festival de Robotique de Cachan.

The competition involved programming a robot in accordance with the rules of the children's game 'Who's Afraid of the Bogeyman?', so that it could move from one side of the playing field to the other without being detected or bumped by other robots, all within three days and two nights.

Everything from the robot itself to the electronics, control board and standard libraries was provided. The students had to find the necessary extensions online and implement them to operate the robot's sensors. Unfortunately, due to the late delivery of electronic components, the robots could not be tested with the new components in time, meaning that the participants could only begin setting up the programming environment on the evening of the first day of the competition.

The second day of the competition focused exclusively on the camera and the movement of the robot. The Ostfalia teams managed to solve the fundamental issue and guide the robot to the finish line.

The competition concluded on 11 June 2022. Due to unforeseeable delays, medals were awarded to all participants.

The Faculty of Computer Science intends to enter several teams in the Robotics Festival again in June 2023 and has assured its colleagues in Cachan of its support in developing ideas and programming the robots.

Media Management visits new partner university in Setúbal

In early May, 16 students on the Media Management (BA) programme took part in a trip to Lisbon, where they visited our new partner university in Setúbal. Prof. Andreas Kölmel and his colleagues Tonio Vakalopoulos (M.Sc.) and Daria Brakmann (M.A.) accompanied and organised the trip.

After arriving by train from Lisbon, the group was given a tour of the Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal campus, where they gained insight into teaching methods and enjoyed an exchange with Portuguese and German students. The visit concluded with a joint lunch on campus with three Ostfalia exchange students, who shared their experiences of studying in Portugal.

During the trip, four films were produced, one of which documents the excursion itself. One group focused on the impressive Castelo de São Jorge fortress, while another specialised in Lisbon's culinary highlights, visiting many different restaurants and markets. A third group accompanied a Portuguese tuk-tuk driver on his tour of the sights.

Report on the excursion from the Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences' study trip to the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, which took place from 12 to 16 June 2023.

Once again, students from the Media Design programme took part in the Festival d'Animation in Annecy this year as part of an excursion led by Prof. Wolk. This prestigious international festival offers students the opportunity to apply their knowledge and experience in the field of animated film, and to network with other filmmakers and producers. Read more here...

International excursion to Spain in 2022

International workshop in Vienna

As part of the collaboration between Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences and FH Campus Vienna, Professor Dr Roskam offered the workshop 'CAN Bus and Microcontroller Applications'. Student interest far exceeded the number of available places, meaning that places had to be allocated by lottery in the end. The combination of an interesting topic and the fact that it could be taken during the lecture-free period before the start of the semester in an attractive city convinced the participating students. A total of 14 students from the two universities took part in this 12-hour workshop. In the final session, German-Austrian teams of two worked on a project task involving transmitting information via the CAN bus using buttons and rotary knobs to cause small lamps to flash at different speeds. The excursion also included visits to the university's teaching and research facilities, as well as to the city of Vienna, to encourage students to consider studying abroad.

Embedded Systems Summer School

In May 2024, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences will organise an international summer school on embedded systems for the first time. These systems are particularly prevalent in automotive engineering, where numerous individual controllers perform various subtasks such as engine control, transmission control and driving dynamics control. For the controllers to function correctly, they must communicate with each other, for which the CAN bus is predominantly used in vehicles.

Participants will learn how to use the CAN bus and implement functions on distributed microcontrollers through numerous practical experiments. The week-long programme also includes social activities such as sightseeing tours and a barbecue.

Participants will be students from Ostfalia and the partner university, the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga (UTC), working on practical tasks in intercultural pairs.

"The fact that the international participants come from Chattanooga is no coincidence, but rather the result of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering's strategy of maintaining partner universities at all important Volkswagen Group locations," explains Prof. Dr.-Ing. Rolf Roskam, head of the summer school and internationalisation officer.

The Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Udo Triltsch, adds: 'Addressing such a computer science topic at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering once again underscores the faculty's current transformation. It offers a unique programme in the field of digitalisation and artificial intelligence through its Digital Engineering degree programme, developed in collaboration with Volkswagen AG.'

Presentation of current research results at CIRP Design 2023

Three days before the start of the CIRP Design 2023 conference in Sydney, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Carsten Stechert from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering began his journey. He travelled by train from Braunschweig to Hamburg, and then flew via Dubai.

The conference began on 17 May 2023 at the University of New South Wales campus and included various keynote speeches, as well as a networking event. This gave Prof. Stechert the opportunity to maintain contacts and exchange ideas with colleagues from abroad, including those from the USA and South Africa.

During the subsequent two days of the conference, Prof. Stechert presented his research group's contributions and received feedback. He also attended other lectures and used the breaks and the conference dinner for in-depth discussions.

In addition to receiving specific suggestions regarding his research results (e.g. usability testing for augmented reality experiences), he also generated ideas for new research projects and forms of international cooperation.

The conference ended on 19 May 2023, leaving Prof. Stechert with numerous new impressions and the promising possibility of future international collaborations.

Poitiers Excursion 2024

The third seminar in the German-French-Italian seminar series on ‘Corona and Social Work,’ sponsored by the German-French Youth Office, took place from 6 to 13 April 2024 in Poitiers, France, accompanied by Prof. Dr. Kolhoff and Dr. Frankenstein. The event was organised by Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences Braunschweig/Wolfenbüttel (Germany), IRTS Poitiers (France) and Università degli Studi Trieste (Italy). The seminar programme included lectures, workshops and visits to social institutions dealing with the impact of Covid-19 on social work in the three countries. Participants took the opportunity to exchange experiences and develop new approaches for their practice.

The first day of the seminar began with a warm welcome for the German and Italian participants at IRTS Poitiers. After an introductory welcome by the IRTS management, important information for the coming days was communicated. Students from France then presented the impact of Covid-19 on social work in their country. The acute shortage of skilled workers in the social sector and the challenges in the area of child protection were highlighted. The presentation on Germany highlighted the increased burden on care workers and the growing demand for psychological support for children and young people. After a visit to a centre for children and young people with multiple disabilities, the day ended with free time for the participants.

On the second day of the seminar, the group visited the ‘Le Toit du Monde’ association, which is involved in the reception and integration of migrants. This was followed by a discussion about the challenges of migration work during the pandemic, workshops on training social workers, and a comparison of training systems in the three countries.

On the third day of the seminar, participants travelled to La Rochelle to visit the Association Cordia. This organisation cares for homeless adults and people with chronic illnesses, and provides housing assistance. The day ended with an exploration of La Rochelle itself.

On the fourth day of the seminar, participants discussed the values of social work and visited la Maison des 3 Quartiers, a CSC (centre social) that cares for unaccompanied refugee minors. The day concluded with a wine tasting event and celebrations at a local bar.

On the final day, the group visited Poitiers Town Hall and the Communal d'action sociale to learn more about the city's social initiatives. In the afternoon, the seminar was evaluated.

Since 1996, the Franco-German Youth Office has supported the German-French-Italian seminars organised by Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences Braunschweig/Wolfenbüttel (Germany), IRTS Poitiers (France) and Università degli Studi Trieste (Italy). Topics covered include working with refugees, demographic developments and social issues at the European level. Each seminar provides a platform for interdisciplinary exchange of experiences and practices from Germany, France and Italy. They enable discussion of social work in Germany, France and Italy, as well as new practical approaches. They promote cross-border cooperation and strengthen intercultural exchange. Discussions and visits raise awareness of social work needs and promote knowledge exchange.

Excursion to Poland 2024

This excursion focuses on promoting international relations through student and teacher exchanges. Students gain insights into social institutions and, in collaboration with their peers from England and Poland, can compare social work fields and approaches across different states. The initiative involves establishing and maintaining partnerships with the University of Łódź and the University of Liverpool.

On 18 March 2024, the students gathered at Braunschweig train station, accompanied by Prof. Dr. Boeckh, for their journey to Poland. Despite the train being slightly delayed, the students used the time to get to know each other and share their excitement about the trip. When the train finally arrived, they travelled on to Łódź Kaliska.

Upon arrival in Łódź, they proceeded to the hostel, situated on the vibrant Piotrkowska Street. Once there, they spent the evening relaxing and looking forward to the days ahead.

The next day, they began their programme with a guided tour of Łódź, exploring the city's historical and cultural sights. They visited the Manufaktura shopping and cultural centre, the Piotrkowska district, and the botanical gardens. They also had the opportunity to talk to local residents and learn more about everyday life in Łódź.

In the afternoon, they watched a film. The students watched Sorry We Missed You, followed by a discussion about the film's themes led by Polish students from the University of Łódź. This intense discussion helped the students to gain a deeper understanding of the social and economic challenges in Poland.

On Wednesday, the students visited the Marek Edelmann Dialogue Centre and Survivors Park, learning more about Jewish history and culture in Łódź. In the afternoon, they met with Polish and English students again to discuss supervision and share experiences.

On Thursday, the students took time to reflect on their experiences of the past few days, recording their thoughts on flipcharts. Some of them visited the Living Library, a project designed to break down prejudices and bring people from different backgrounds together.

The following day, they travelled to Warsaw, where they visited the Warsaw Uprising Museum and explored the Old Town. That evening, they returned to Łódź and spent time together at the hostel before setting off on their return journey the following day.

On Saturday, the students met in front of the hostel to begin their journey home. During the train journey, they reflected on their experiences and planned their next steps for their academic work relating to the trip. After arriving in Braunschweig, they said goodbye and made their way home, their minds filled with memories and new insights.

Exkursion nach Südafrika 2023

From 28 November to 6 December 2023, Professor Ludger Kolhoff visited Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, with 20 students from the Faculty of Social Work.

The programme included visits to the following institutions and organisations:

• The Missionvale Care Centre and the Ithemba Special Day Care Centre in Missionvale Township.
• Nelson Mandela University;
• Port Elizabeth Mental Health;
• A disabled community project in Walmer Township;
• Masifunde; the Association for Persons with Physical Disabilities; the Ray Mhlaba Skills Training Centre; and the Siyaya Skills Institute.
• The Gem Project.
• The programme concluded with a visit to Addo Elephant Park.

The excursion began on 28 November 2023 with a flight from Frankfurt to Port Elizabeth, via Cape Town. On 30 November, the group visited Missionvale Township, an area characterised by extreme poverty. There, they learned about the work of the Missionvale Care Centre, which provides basic care and education for local people. The centre's motto, 'Do something, then you will get help', emphasises its community-based approach. The group also visited the Ithemba Special Day Care Centre, which supports children with disabilities and impairments in the township. On the same day, they also visited Nelson Mandela University, where Professor Soji and Dr Mansvelt introduced them to social work in South Africa. They discussed educational challenges, unemployment and crime in the country. The day ended with a visit to the Port Elizabeth Mental Health Centre, where the group learnt about mental healthcare.

On 1 December 2023, the programme focused on projects for disabled people. The group visited a self-help project in Walmer Township, where they made a donation. They then went to the Association for Persons with Physical Disabilities (APD), which helps people with disabilities integrate into the labour market. The following day, the group visited the Masifunde facility in Walmer Township, which focuses on childcare, education, and promoting employment. The students received a warm welcome and experienced Masifunde's work first-hand.

On 3 December, the programme included a visit to Addo National Park, where the students had the opportunity to observe various animal species, including elephants, in their natural habitat. On 4 December, the group visited various facilities for the vocational training and social development of disadvantaged young people. They visited the Ray Mhlaba Skills Training Centre and the Siyaya Skills Institute, gaining insights into their training programmes for the unemployed. Finally, they visited the Gem Project, a non-profit organisation offering rehabilitation and stabilisation programmes for children and young people from the townships.

The trip concluded on 5 and 6 December 2023 with the return flight from Port Elizabeth via Johannesburg to Frankfurt.

The excursion produced a variety of outcomes:

1. Expanded understanding and intercultural sensitivity: The students gained deep insights into life in South Africa, particularly in the townships of Port Elizabeth. This deepened their understanding of global social challenges and strengthened their sensitivity to cultural diversity.
2. Practical insights into social work: Through direct visits to various organisations, the students gained practical insights into the diverse fields of social work. They were able to observe how theoretical concepts are applied in practice and what challenges can arise in the process.
3. Personal and professional development: Direct interaction with local people helped the students improve their communication skills and strengthen their empathy and critical thinking. These experiences are likely to influence their future work in social work and strengthen their skills as professionals.
4. Building partnerships and networks: The excursion provided opportunities to build partnerships and exchange ideas with South African organisations and educational institutions in the field of social work.
5. Enrichment of the academic curriculum: The experiences gained could be integrated into the faculty's curriculum to enable future students to have similarly enriching learning experiences. This could further develop the curriculum and strengthen the international orientation of the programme.

Overall, the excursion to South Africa expanded the knowledge and skills of the participating students and made a positive contribution to Ostfalia's Faculty of Social Work's global perspective and social responsibility.

Excursion to Poland 2023

From 6 to 10 March 2023, the Faculty of Social Work organised a trip to Łódź, Poland, led by Prof. Jürgen Boeckh. This student exchange aimed to promote international relations and give students an insight into the social institutions of the partner university in Łódź. Furthermore, by collaborating with English and Polish students from the University of Łódź and the University of Liverpool, students from the Faculty of Social Work had the opportunity to compare social work fields and approaches internationally.

The trip formed part of Module 14, 'Interculturality, Internationalisation, Gender and Diversity', and incorporated selected learning content to promote student mobility.

On the very first evening, the students took advantage of the opportunity to interact with their peers from the partner university in England and quickly got to know each other.

There were many different activities planned for the excursion. On day two, the students were welcomed at the University of Łódź by their Polish peers and took part in various icebreaker games before going on a city tour with Mr Krzysztof Olkusz.

Participants also visited the Manafaktura Museum, which showed them the changes that have taken place in the city of Łódź. For instance, a former textile factory owned by Izrael Poznański has been transformed into a contemporary shopping and leisure destination.

The following day, the students attended a lecture on the history of Łódź at the Fabryka Aktywności Miejskiej office, after which they were given a presentation on the institution's social projects. These projects aim to support residents affected by the closure of Manufaktura and the subsequent unemployment and poverty. The projects include the Local Activity Centre, which caters for senior citizens, and offers children therapy, tutoring and hot meals.

On the afternoon of the third day, the participants visited the Centrum Dialogu im. Marek Edelman and listened to a lecture about Marek Edelman (1919–2009), who opposed the Nazi regime and campaigned for the rights of minorities. This was followed by a guided tour of the memorial park opposite, which commemorates the victims of that period.

International Conference on Sustainable Globalisation in Kerala

The 10th International Week at the Faculty of Economics at Ostfalia was held as part of the BIP 'Global Network'.

From 21 to 25 October, six lecturers and 32 students from six different countries visited the Wolfsburg campus. One hundred students from the Faculty of Economics took advantage of the opportunity to experience 'internationalisation at home'.

Students at the Faculty of Economics at Ostfalia University in Wolfsburg can experience all this and more during International Week: getting a taste of international life, attending English-language courses and introducing foreign guests to the region. This year, the week took place from 21 to 25 October for the tenth time, with the participation of various partner and prospective partner universities.

Guests included teachers and students from the USA (University of South Dakota and University of Tennessee in Chattanooga), Great Britain (Canterbury Christ Church Business School), Finland (Arcada University), Slovakia (Matej Bel University), Hungary (Edutus University) and Poland (Krakow University of Economics). The six guest lecturers offered five elective modules in English that were designed with an international focus in terms of their didactic approach, methodology and content.

This was the first time that the event had been financed with the help of an ERASMUS BIP (Blended Intensive Programme). The International Student Office at Ostfalia applied for funds in advance from the DAAD. The International Relations Office at Ostfalia and the Faculty of Economics also provided funding for the programme.

The Blended Intensive Programme includes an online event, which can be held either before or after the intensive part of the programme. Two weeks before the actual programme, the lecturers and students participating in International Week had the opportunity to get to know each other online and prepare for the week in terms of content. Students from Erasmus partner institutions who participated in International Week were able to apply for financial support from Erasmus at their home institutions, which made it easier for international guests to finance their participation.

“Ostfalia students and international guest students can gain a wide range of intercultural experiences and improve their English skills during the week,” explains Elisabeth Uta from the Faculty of Economics. “Through spending time together in class, taking part in the afternoon leisure programme and meeting up in the evening, many international friendships are formed.” A total of 100 Economics students and 32 international guest students took part in International Week. The faculty is already looking forward to the 11^(th) International Week, which will take place from 20 to 24 October 2025.

People-oriented international relations – staff training programme

At the end of October, I took part in a training programme at our partner university, the Polytechnic University of Valencia. I decided to participate in this workshop because we are currently collaborating with the International Office and the Knowledge and Technology Transfer Department on the InterAct! – International Activities project (HAW International funding programme, Module A of the DAAD), which aims to enhance Ostfalia's international presence and promote international exchange.

Nowadays, technology facilitates internationalisation, accelerates contact and optimises processes. However, it is important not to lose sight of the human aspect behind all this. We must reflect on the importance of interpersonal relationships and their effect on our work.

The training programme in Valencia, called 'Human Based International Relations', was undoubtedly an enriching experience, both professionally and personally. The workshop aimed to strengthen communication, creativity and teamwork through solving interactive challenges on topics unrelated to our daily work. 'Thinking outside the box!'

Although the course was primarily intended for international office workers, it was also open to anyone interested in internationalisation and coexisting with people from different cultures.

Participants came from various universities, including the University of Technology in Łódź (Poland), the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm (Sweden), the Hague University of Applied Sciences (the Netherlands), FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg (Germany), the Estonian University of Life Sciences in Tartu (Estonia), the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen (the Czech Republic) and the Budapest Metropolitan University (Hungary).

Paula Casells, Eduardo Blasco and Claudio Benavent, who worked directly with us, came from the faculties of architecture, computer science and agronomy. Eduardo introduced us to Valencian culture, traditions, history and the mindset of the locals.

Paula's seminar covered how to improve participants' socio-cultural, leadership and project management skills, and Claudio discussed the practical side of working in an international relations office. They all contributed their knowledge and passion for their professions, cultures and humanity, making our time in Valencia an unforgettable experience.