­Erasmus+­

From March 1st to 6th, just in time before a different situation arose because of the COVID-19 spread, three colleagues* of the Department of Christian Social Work and heads of the courses M.A. International Social Sciences and B.A. Social Work could carry out a staff mobility phase at Maynooth University in Ireland.

The aim was to get to know the internationalisation strategies of this university and the specific framework of the courses in the Department of International Development and the B.A. Social Work, to exchange ideas with colleagues, to see if and how possibilities for cooperation can be considered, to attend an e-learning workshop and last but not least to immerse in the English language and to experience Ireland and its culture.

So the week was packed with activities and impressions. We were warmly welcomed and there was a busy schedule which, in addition to the workshop, included various meetings with lecturers of different functions and responsibilities. The relationships and the exchange could be further deepened in the evening during a pub visit.

The workshop on e-learning showed us once again the relevance of the further development of digitalisation in higher education and motivated us to invest more attention and activities in this area. This necessity arose immediately after our return due to the emerging situation caused by COVID-19. This workshop was an ideal template for our current efforts and challenges to maintain teaching under these circumstances.

We have gained a better understanding of the specific framework of these courses at Maynooth University and will continue to explore the possibilities for collaboration in terms of curricula, student exchange opportunities, summer schools or internships. A joint workshop on “Teaching Development Studies in the Global North” is planned for this year in Friedensau. We look forward to welcoming our colleagues from Maynooth to Friedensau.

My name is Noémie. I am a student in International Social Sciences at Friedensau Adventist University in Germany. From the 6^th January 2020 to the 5^th March 2020, I was at Trócaire head office in Maynooth, Ireland for my internship. My trip to Ireland for my internship was sponsored by Erasmus+ and my university.  The process has been very smooth; the Erasmus+ office at Friedensau Adventist University assisted me throughout the whole process. The Erasmus mobility has given me free access to language classes to improve my English. I wanted to do my internship in a European professional organization. The opportunity of funding from Erasmus has helped me fulfill this goal. In addition, going in a completely new environment for my internship has been a very rich experience because I have gone through a multidimensional learning process. It has given me the opportunity to learn new ways of working, I have got some experience in a very professional environment, I have met many people and made new friends, I have got some knowledge about the Irish culture. Doing all this simultaneously and in a short period of time (2 months) was great. I am grateful for the opportunity and the support I have received from Erasmus+ and my University.

“Experiencing a different handling of the crisis strengthens my motivation to continue my internship and makes me see some creative approaches to keep public life running. Sweden is following an unique path showing great trust and hope in its people while keeping frustration low and sparking a multifaceted debate. Time will teach us more and hopefully have some lasting lessons for us all. Stay SAFE and don´t stop CARING.”

Kathrin Maier

Home University: Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg

Target country: Sweden

Host Institution: Uppsala University, Department of Peace and Conflict Research

Current status: Work in the Office and from “home“

Time: 2020-02-15  -  2020-05-15