Starting in April 2009, the International Office (AAA - Akademisches Auslandsamt) offers three new projects for Dortmund and international students. The offer can be realized due to the funding of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD – Deutscher Akademischer Ausstauschdienst). Besides the model projects “International Student Councils” and “Integration into the Urban Society”, the AAA also offers students the chance to acquire a certificate about their engagement in the international field. Apart from that, intercultural training and application workshops will be offered for students who are interested in a semester or traineeship abroad. In cooperation with the “Metropolis Ruhr (UAMR) the AAA publishes a special issue concerning “international experience” in the next edition of the campus newspaper “Pflichtlektüre”.
From March 2009 until February 2011 two PROFIN-projects take place at TU Dortmund which include German as well as foreign students
In autumn 2008 the German Academic Exchange Service advertised two campaigns to promote international exchange at universities and to integrate foreign students at German universities. The International Office (AAA) of TU Dortmund was successful with actually four concepts and obtains funding in the amount of about 136.000 € from DAAD.
PROFIN is a new DAAD-program and stands for “Programm zur Förderung der Intergration ausländischer Studierender” (program for supporting the integration of foreign students). From March 2009 until February 2011 two PROFIN-projects take place at TU Dortmund which include German as well as foreign students. The model project “International Student Councils” makes the student councils a key element of international exchange. The student councils are invited to distinguish themselves as “international student councils” by setting certain priorities and quality features. Moreover, there are four individual measures as part of the project “Integration into the Urban Society” which strengthen the link between university, schools and Dortmund city administration. Students with a migration background and international students serve as role models and experts transferring their knowledge to pupils. Additionally, the PROFIN-funding allows for the project “Intercultural Experts” to be realized. This model gives students the chance to let their engagement in the international field being acknowledged by their universities. International activities like visits abroad, language classes and engagement for an “international campus” are bundled and acknowledged with a certificate.
Within the scope of the DAAD campaign “go out! – study worldwide” TU Dortmund was also successful with two concepts. With respect to the projects within the scope of the program line “Preparation and Realization of Information Days”, regional workshops (summer semester 2009: “My Ticket to Europe”, With a Ticket to Asia” and My Ticket to North America”) are linked with application workshops and intercultural trainings. Aim of the regional workshops is to arouse interest for different cultures as well as increase the popularity of the mobility programs of TU Dortmund and other organizations (DAAD, AIESEC; INWENT; etc.). Whereas the regional workshops are attended by pupils and students who have a general as well as a specific interest in a region, the short application workshops and intercultural trainings intend to help those who are actively applying for a traineeship or semester abroad.
On top of this, the International Office will cooperate with the university alliance Metropolis Ruhr (UAMR) and the campus newspaper “Pflichtlektüre” in future, to give the topic international experiences a personal touch and a student voice. The first print edition of “Pflichtlektüre” in the summer semester is going to include a special issue with experiential reports and reflections of outgoing and incoming students of UAMR. Furthermore, a community blog on the new web site of “Pflichtlektüre” will give a weekly insight into the lives of two students abroad and in Dortmund.