Change of perspective: International students as cross-cultural diplomats

The PROFIN model project "Change of Perspective: International Students as Cross-cultural Diplomats" promotes the further internationalization of Universität Hamburg and better integration of international students. Throuh the specific skills that international students contribute to daily academic life, a positive view of the university's interculturality is promoted. Within the context of this project, the program for international and German students developed by PIASTA will be transferred to the deans' offices, academic offices, student interest groups and other significant areas of daily student life. International students will not only be present as participants but as program coordinators. The goal is to support a positive view of internationality as both productive and enrichening. International students will act, in effect, as diplomats for internationality and integration.

In winter semester 2011, we launch the pilot phase of the Certificate International Competence. Its aim is to distinctively acknowledge student's intercultural engagement by awarding this certificate.

What we want to achieve:

• to support the internationalization of Universität Hamburg in all of its diverse areas.
• to underscore the significance of internationality as a self-evident and productive aspect of Universität Hamburg.
• to keep up with modern times, because internationality is a fundamental characteristic of modern universities.
• to promote the creativity and new approaches on the basis of international cooperation in life and learning.
• to provide as many students as possible an opportunity to expand their horizons by cross-cultural exchange.
• to awaken interest in Universität Hamburg among students, scientists and scholars beyond Germany's borders with international projects.
• to foster and make visible stundents' intercultural interests and engagement
  

What we offer our cooperation partners:

• Advice, training and support for international students with the aim to increase participation of other international students in their courses.
• Financing of international tutors or mentors for faculty-internal school or subject-specific courses.
• Train the Trainer workshops to increase the cross-cultural skills of staff, tutors and instructors at Universität Hamburg.
• Financial and personnel support of specific academic projects targeting international and German students at Universität Hamburg and contributing to the internationalization of Universität Hamburg.
• Funding of other projects within the context of "Change of Perspective: International Students as Cross-cultural Diplomats".

Who can cooperate with us:

• At university-level with various institutions in the respective schools, departments or institutes.
• at student-body level with the respective student councils, student centers and all other student representatives and organizations.

What are "Cultural Ambassadors"?

• They fulfil an active role in campus life and do help with the integration of others.
• They help German as well as international students to foster and actively participate in integration on the campus.
• They motivate German students to broaden their international experience.
• By sharing their own intercultural competences, knowledge of languages and cultural backgrounds, they tremendously enrich all of Universität Hamburg's campus life.
• They indicate specific international problems and needs to student counsellors, study advisors, tutors and others.

Previous & Running projects

Certificate Intercultural Competence: Experience – Knowledge – Awareness  (CIC) is an extracurricular offer of the University of Hamburg. This certificate will be issued to students of the University of Hamburg who show extraordinary engagement in intercultural matters. The CIC can be obtained free of charge by German as well as international students of the University of Hamburg. In the introductory phase beginning in the winter semester 2011/12, it will be available for Bachelor students of the Departments of Languages, Literatures and Media I and II and the Faculty of Education, Psychology and Human Movement.         www.uni-hamburg.de/cic

International Room Exchange. Now you will be able to search for internationally-oriented flat shares or advertise one or more rooms or even your whole flat to international students. You can indicate which languages are spoken in your community and help other students find places to stay where they will know that they will be welcome and understood. The room exchange is open to German students as well as students from all over the world. In Cooperation with campus-hamburg.

International Welcome Week. Thanks to strong cooperation prior to the model project, the following cooperation partners are now contributing to a successful program: AStA, Career Center, University Sports Hamburg, Office for Erasmus Exchange, Hamburg Welcome Center, Office for Study Abroad, Student Services Hamburg and Tandem Service. We would be delighted to welcome new cooperation partners to our International Welcome Week.

Writing Workshop. In close cooperation with individual departments, we were offering subject-specific writing and study courses for international and German students.

Ghana project – Teaching students acting as intercultural ambassadors in Winneba and Hamburg. Within our cooperation project with the Department of Pedagogy of History, teaching studens went on a scientific study trip to fulfill their compulsory internship in Ghana. Subsequently they incorporate their respective experiences into the PIASTA program. This way a change of perspectives is produced which is perceived by the students themselves and then, with directed support, is reflected and transmitted to further students. The participants therefore act as intercultural ambassadors motivating others to make such experiences themselves and indicating the colonial history of Ghana and its perception in German history lessons. Further, in the context of this project professor Kofi Darkwah (University of Education, Winneba, Ghana) vistited the University of Hamburg to give a guest lecture on "Human Rights and Historical Learning" in November 2010.

TBA * to be announced – University of Hamburg Students' Event Guide & Literary Journal. In the winter term of 2010, the students of the IAA decided to found an online magazine in English. The magazine, which is online since Dec 2010, is designed to be an event guide – as well as a literary journal – for the students of Hamburg. The initial team intends to provide students with the most interesting events, locations and essays each month. Their mission is to uncover the gems that make Hamburg such an incredible and diverse city to live in. The publishers recognize that their greatest asset is the creativity and unfettered imagination of our students. This is why they want to invite everybody interested in participating to become involved with the project. If you are looking to have your short stories, poems, essays, concert reviews or anything related to student life or the city of Hamburg published or just want to read about interesting stuff happening in this beautiful city, you should check out the website!