The Together project (2019-1-PT01-KA203-060772) has been funded with support from the European Commission. This web site reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

The Together project (2019-1-PT01-KA203-060772) has been funded with support from the European Commission. This web site reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

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Refugees Initiative

Shaping Future/Zukunft gestalten

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INTERVIEWS


INSTITUTION RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INITIATIVE

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

COUNTRY

Germany

CITY

Berlin

Address

Unter den Linden
10099 Berlin
Room 2243b

TYPOLOGY

- Help desk and supporting services for refugee students
- Intercultural competences activities for staff
- Language and other introductory courses for refugee students
- Non formal education activities for students
- Recognition of studies and prior learning for refugee students
- Social Events
- Tutoring and peer support for refugee students
- University policies on access to higher education

TARGET GROUPS

- Newly arrived refugees
- Refugees of second generation
- Students
- University staff (academic and administrative)

DESCRIPTION AND METHODOLOGIES

The initiative Zukunft gestalten (Shaping future), based at the Geography Department of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences of the Humboldt University of Berlin supports refugees on their way to the universities of Berlin and offers practical help for the participants of all backgrounds for their successful integration into the social and cultural life of Berlin. Through a guidance and support with different programs we want to help them with their preparation for their course of studies, make their first steps in the everyday life easier, connect them, increase their chances on the labour market and expand their intercultural competences. Our offering consists of a mentoring-program, a consultation about studying in Germany and a thematic workshop about studying and the work life.

1. Mentoring-program

HU offers a mentoring-program for refugees who are interested in studying. This means student assistants look for suitable partners, who then support them with issues related to bureaucracy and the universities:
• How does the program "HU4Refugees" of the Humboldt University of Berlin work?
• How do I apply for a university?
• Who can translate and acknowledge my documents?
• Which courses of studies fit my interests?
The mentors help their partners, the mentees, with all of such questions and can additionally help with practicing the language and introduce them into the divers life of Berlin. The Mentors and mentees decide on their own about how they want to structure their cooperation. The reasons is, that in every tandem different issues are being dealt with.

2. Consultation

The consultation about studying-related topics is being offered by our two student assistants and also completes the mentoring-program. Topics which can be dealt with include for instance the acknowledgement of documents, the writing of motivation letters and the search for scholarships or for suitable courses of studies.
To get an appointment for the consultation hour, everybody who is interested can send an e-mail to [email protected]. A raw description of the problem or the questions helps us for providing a better consultation.

3. Workshop

HU’s workshop about studying and the work life takes place regularly. Here HU wants to support refugees of all perspectives in finding their ways to the universities and into the labour market. The topics include for example introductions into the scientific working, the organization of the own studies or the correct writing of the application documents and the search for internships. All the contents get worked out together by the refugees, volunteering students and employees and invited guests.

4. Educational and free time activities

To bring all participants together, provide knowledge, a divers program and fun, HU offers educational and free time activities on a monthly base. So one can get to know new people on an afternoon in the climbing hall or receive exciting new facts about the German history on a trip to a museum. HU spreads all information over their mailing list and the groups in social media.