The goal of the exclusively digital International Week Online was to point out to students, especially during and despite the Corona times, the various possibilities to integrate a longer stay abroad into the individual course of studies at the HNU and to emphasise the benefits for the personal and professional future. In order to make the access to the extensive range of information as easy and flexible as possible, 30-minute info sessions were offered, which could be reached conveniently from anywhere via the same zoom link once at lunchtime and once in the evening.
Students were able to get information about their opportunities to spend part of their studies abroad, whether it was to do a study abroad semester or an internship abroad, to write their final thesis abroad, or to participate in an International Summer or Winter School. The one-hour workshop "English Application in a Nutshell" showed how to prepare an application in English. The financing of a stay abroad was the topic of the events "Erasmus+ Scholarships", "Financing outside the EU" and "HAW.International", which was presented by a former DAAD scholarship holder. The events in which HNU students and graduates with experience abroad reported on their personal experiences abroad met with particular interest.
A specially created website gave and gives a quick overview of the events offered. The events were accompanied by a comprehensive Instagram campaign to get students interested in the International Week Online, to remind them of information sessions and to collect feedback. The daily stories were viewed by about 1500 students each.
A significantly higher participation rate in terms of number of participants and interaction compared to in-presence events prove that the online format meets the needs of the students, so that the International Week will continue to take place online in the coming semesters.
Quotes from participants:
- "The online offerings were really very good and you could participate regardless of location."
- "The lectures strengthened my wish to spend a semester abroad even more."
- "Thank you very much for the super organised International Week!"
