Certificate of Intercultural Competence

Source: https://www.uni-bonn.de/en/international/campus-international/certificate-of-intercultural-competence Parent: https://www.uni-bonn.de/en/studying/study-and-internship-abroad

The University of Bonn values and supports extracurricular engagement in international and intercultural fields, offering the Certificate of Intercultural Competence as a tangible sign of appreciation for those active in this area. This is a free service, available to all students enrolled at the University of Bonn.

The multicultural reality of modern schooling makes intercultural skills crucial to successful teaching and thus part of teacher training. The Certificate of Intercultural Competence for teaching degrees provides students at the University of Bonn on a teaching degree with the opportunity to shape their individual profile.

The certificate at a glance

Honing your international awareness, improving your language skills and networking with other students are the best ways to ensure diversity in your day-to-day life as a student as well as giving you key skills for working in an international context.

The Certificate of Intercultural Competence comprises four components, and students will need to complete three of them – and can do so in as many semesters as they like, from their bachelor’s right through to their doctorate.

The Certificate of Intercultural Comptence for teaching degrees als comprises four components. Students must complete three of the four components offered. At least one of the selected components must be tailored to the needs of teaching degrees. Possible teaching degree-specific aspects are listed under the relevant components.

Certificate components and content

Component A – International Experience

All activities that students actually completed outside Germany, such as an internship or period of study abroad or a research visit.

Students who obtained their university entrance qualification in Germany or at a German school abroad: study-related stay abroad (e.g. via the Erasmus Programme, the Global Exchange Program, a PROMOS scholarship or a stay abroad that they organized themselves).

Once you complete one of the three options listed below, you will have met all the requirements for Component A.

A1, Studying abroad\ Duration: at least three months\ Evidence: Confirmation of Stay/ Transcript of Records
A2, Internship abroad\ Duration: at least two months (although compulsory internships can be shorter)\ Evidence: internship certificate
A3, Research visit\ Duration: at least one month\ Evidence: confirmation from supervisor

Students who obtained their university entrance qualification outside Germany: study-related stay at the University of Bonn (e.g. via the Erasmus Programme or organized themselves).

A1, Studying at the University of Bonn\ Evidence: Transcript of Records/ certificate of enrollment
A2, Research visit to the University of Bonn\ Evidence: confirmation from supervisor
A3, Research visit\ Duration: at least one month\ Evidence: confirmation from supervisor

Component B – Academic Skills

All activities geared toward acquiring specialist and linguistic skills such as language courses, international lecture series and summer schools.

You need to earn 25 points in total, meaning that you will have to complete B1, B2 or B3 successfully.

B1, Language courses\ Duration: at least 50 hours (four hours a week for one semester or two hours a week for two)\ Language courses can be taken in Germany or abroad\ Several language courses can be combined together\ Restriction: the language courses must be extracurricular, meaning that they cannot count towards their regular degree program.\ Courses taught at the University of Bonn (for international students): German language courses1\ Points: 25\ Evidence: confirmation of attendance/ printout from BASIS
B2, Lecture series with international relevance\ Restriction: the lecture series must be extracurricular, meaning that it cannot count towards their regular degree program.\ International lecture series at the University of Bonn: Realignments on the World Stage: Exploring Shifting Relations and Strategies\ BIMUN Lecture Series2 (Bonn International Model United Nations): \ Lecture Series France\ Lecture Series Italy: Von Medium zu Medium: Formen und Dynamiken inter- und transmedialen Erzählens\ Students can also attend and count lecture series that form part of the standard timetable for the semester from BASIS3. You are welcome to contact us in advance if you have a question about what can be counted.\ Points: 25\ Evidence: confirmation of attendance (e.g. in the case of the BIMUN Lecture Series) OR list of signatures4 (PDF) OR brief synopsis of the content (max. one page)
B3, Summer schools\ Duration: at least two weeks\ Students who obtained their university entrance qualification in Germany: the summer school must be held abroad\ Students who obtained their university entrance qualification outside Germany: the summer school can be held in any country apart from the student’s home country\ Current summer schools5 open for applications.\ Points: 25\ Evidence: confirmation of attendance

Component C – Ambassador Skills

This component looks mainly at your extracurricular activities, such as supporting international students, acting as an ambassador for the University of Bonn, helping out at international events or being involved in international university groups at the University of Bonn.

You need to earn 25 points in total, preferably from two subareas of component C.

C1, Supporting students/ doctoral students from abroad\ Study Buddy Program6 – meet-ups among international/ German students/ doctoral students\ Welcome Center for International Researchers7 – supporting visiting researchers from other countries\ Language tandem scheme at the Center for Language Learning (SLZ)8 – meet-ups for acquiring foreign language skills\ Language tandem exchange organized by the General Students’ Committee (AStA)9 – meet-ups for acquiring foreign language skills\ Points: 10 per pairing in the abovementioned initiatives\ Evidence: confirmation of attendance or report sheet10 (PDF)\ Program “MitSprache - Integration through language support for new immigrants11”\ Points: 15 per extracurricular participation seminar, 25 per extracurricular participation in the seminar and voluntary engagement\ Evidence: confirmation of attendance, report sheet12 (PDF) \ Training at the Refugee Law Clinic Bonn13\ Points: 15 for the successful completion of the training\ Evidence: certification of the Refugee Law Clinic Bonn\ Involvement as Internationaltutor at the Studierendenwerke Bonn14\ Points: 10 points per semester\ Evidence: confirmation of attendance
C2, Attending/ helping to organize International Office events and/ or events at the faculties\ Attending or helping to organize our country focus evenings\ Getting involved in the Welcome Days for international students\ Getting involved in the Study and Internships Abroad fair\ Getting involved in information events as a returning exchange student\ Attending or helping to organize International Club events\ Please feel free to contact us directly if you are interested! You can also read the program of International Office events as well as that from the International Club. The certificate newsletter provides more information on events.\ Points: 5 for attending, 10–25 for playing an active role in organizing\ Evidence: request this by email from zertifikat@uni-bonn.de the day after the event
C3, Ambassadorial activities at your host university/ the University of Bonn**Actively representing the University of Bonn at your host university or your home university (i.e. the University of Bonn) by:*Volunteering (Leadership Role) within the iStart program15\ Showcasing the relevant partner university at an event*Playing an active role in a Study Abroad fair**Organizing a country focus evening\ Actively participating in the program “Wegweiser ins Ausland16” of the University of Bonn*Points: 5–15 depending on the workload involved*Evidence: email confirmation from the respective International Office
C4, Involvement in international university groups, organizations or associations\ Overview of international student associations at the University of Bonn17\ Points: 15 per semester for being an active member, 20 for committee activities over the course of a semester, 10 points for the participation in the program “Back to School18”\ Evidence: attestation/ confirmation from the university group

Component D – Global Awareness

This component assesses your awareness of global contexts, processes and issues. You can choose between taking an intercultural training course and attending talks, exhibitions, etc. with an international focus.

You need to earn 25 points in total.

D1, Intercultural training\ Training put on by the University of Bonn or external organizers will count\ Content of the intercultural training courses19 and registration information\ Points: 20\ Evidence: confirmation of attendance
D2, Talks and events with an international focus\ Within and outside the University\ Restriction: the talks/ events must be extracurricular, meaning that they cannot count towards their regular degree program.\ Talks and events (selection): \ BIMUN2 – individual talks from the lecture series\ iStart program15 – individual events \ City of Bonn20 – calendar of international events\ Bonn Adult Education Center (VHS)21\ fiw (Forum Internationale Wissenschaft) - individual talks from the various lecture series\ Federal Agency for Civic Education (bpb)22 – individual events
Points: 2.5 for attending one event\ Evidence: list of signatures23 (PDF) or brief synopsis of the content (max. one page)

Certificate components and content for teaching degrees

Component A – International Experience

All activities that students actually completed outside Germany, such as an internship or period of study abroad or a research visit.

Once you complete one of the three options listed below, you will have met all the requirements for Component A.

A1, Studying abroad with a subject didactic and/ or educational science component\ Duration: at least three months\ Evidence: Confirmation of Stay/ Transcript of Records
A2, International school internship\ Duration: at least two months (although compulsory internships can be shorter)\ Evidence: internship certificate
A3, Research visit abroad with a subject didactic and/ or educational science focus\ Duration: at least one month\ Evidence: confirmation from supervisor

Component B – Academic Skills

All activities geared toward acquiring specialist and linguistic skills such as language courses, international lecture series and summer schools.

You need to earn 25 points in total, meaning that you will have to complete B1, B2 or B3 successfully.

B1, Language courses\ Duration: at least 50 hours (four hours a week for one semester or two hours a week for two)\ Language courses can be taken in Germany or abroad\ Several language courses can be combined together\ Restriction: the language courses must be extracurricular, meaning that they cannot count towards their regular degree program.\ Courses taught at the University of Bonn \ Points: 25\ Evidence: confirmation of attendance/ printout from BASIS
B2, Lecture series with international relevance\ Restriction: the lecture series must be extracurricular, meaning that it cannot count towards their regular degree program.\ International lecture series at the University of Bonn: \ BIMUN Lecture Series2 (Bonn International Model United Nations): Realignments on the World Stage: Exploring Shifting Relations and Strategies\ Lecture Series France\ Lecture Series Italy: Von Medium zu Medium: Formen und Dynamiken inter- und transmedialen Erzählens\ Students can also attend and count lecture series that form part of the standard timetable for the semester from BASIS3. You are welcome to contact us in advance if you have a question about what can be counted.\ Points: 25\ Evidence: confirmation of attendance (e.g. in the case of the BIMUN Lecture Series) OR list of signatures4 (PDF) OR brief synopsis of the content (max. one page)
B3, Summer schools with a subject didactic or educational science focus\ Duration: at least two weeks\ The summer school must be held abroad.\ Points: 25\ Evidence: confirmation of attendance

Component C – Ambassador Skills

You need to earn 25 points in total, preferably from two subareas of component C.

C1, Supporting students/ doctoral students from abroad\ Study Buddy Program6 – meet-ups among international/ German students/ doctoral students\ Welcome Center for International Researchers7 – supporting visiting researchers from other countries\ Language tandem scheme at the Center for Language Learning (SLZ)8 – meet-ups for acquiring foreign language skills\ Language tandem exchange organized by the General Students’ Committee (AStA)9 – meet-ups for acquiring foreign language skills\ Points: 10 per pairing in the abovementioned initiatives\ Evidence: confirmation of attendance or report sheet10 (PDF)\ Program “MitSprache - Integration through language support for new immigrants11”\ Points: 25 per extracurricular participation in the seminar and voluntary engagement\ Evidence: confirmation of attendance\ Training at the Refugee Law Clinic Bonn13\ Points: 15 for the successful completion of the training\ Evidence: certification of the Refugee Law Clinic Bonn\ Involvement as Internationaltutor at the Studierendenwerke Bonn14\ Points: 10 points per semester\ Evidence: confirmation of attendance
C2, Attending/ helping to organize International Office events and/ or events at the faculties\ Attending or helping to organize our country focus evenings\ Getting involved in the Welcome Days for international students\ Getting involved in the Study and Internships Abroad fair\ Getting involved in information events as a returning exchange student\ Attending or helping to organize International Club events\ Please feel free to contact us directly if you are interested! You can also read the program of International Office events as well as that from the International Club. The certificate newsletter provides more information on events.\ Points: 5 for attending, 10–25 for playing an active role in organizing\ Evidence: request this by email from zertifikat@uni-bonn.de the day after the event
C3, Activities as a teaching degree ambassador\ Pädagogischer Austauschdienst (PAD): Campus ambassador24\ German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD): International teaching degree ambassador25 or peer- advice about studying abroad within the scope of a teaching degree (contact: Frauke Fechner, ffechne1@uni-bonn.de)\ Actively participating in the program “Wegweiser ins Ausland16” of the University of Bonn\ Points: 5–15 depending on the workload involved\ Evidence: email confirmation from the respective International Office
C4, Activity in an international/ intercultural club, association or an organization active in the educational science/ schools sector\ Europa macht Schule26\ Weitblick e.V.27\ AsA e.V.28\ Points: 15 per semester for being an active member, 20 for committee activities over the course of a semester, 10 for the participation in the program "Back to School29"\ Evidence: attestation/ confirmation from the university group

Component D – Global Awareness

You need to earn 25 points in total.

*D1, Intercultural training for a teaching context *e.g. with the scope of the extraC-Program from the Bonn Center for Teaching Education (BLZ) \ Points: 20\ Evidence: confirmation of attendance
D2, Educational Sciences/ school teaching experience with an international orientation\ Within and outside the University\ Restriction: the talks/ events must be extracurricular, meaning that they cannot count towards their regular degree program.\ Points: 2.5 for attending one event\ Evidence: list of signatures23 (PDF) or brief synopsis of the content (max. one page)

Process and registration

Students register via an online portal, which is also used to record the individual pieces of evidence provided. Each certificate is issued individually and confirms your engagement with international issues.

The first thing to do is register online. Please read How to Register on Mobility-Online carefully before registering. You will then be able to subscribe to the monthly newsletter, which provides details of international events, workshops and vacancies.

Obtaining evidence and credit for activities

Once you have registered, you should record the activities that will count toward your certificate in your Mobility-Online account, where you can add information about your activities and upload the corresponding evidence at any time. As soon as you have provided and uploaded all the necessary evidence, you can ask for your certificate to be issued.

How to Register on Mobility-Online (PDF)30

How to Register on Mobility-Online for teaching degrees (PDF)31

FAQs

Who can take part?

All students enrolled at the University can register.

What kind of things can count toward the certificate?

You can earn points toward your certificate through extracurricular activities not related to your degree program. The Certificate components and content box on the website contains all you need to know about what activities, events, etc. will qualify. Please do not hesitate to ask whether other kinds of activities that you have done can also be counted.

How do I provide evidence of my activities?

Once you have signed up, you will be able to enter your activities in the online portal and upload relevant evidence.

Do I need to obtain my certificate within a specific timeframe?

You can complete your certificate at any time while you are a student (bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral) at the University of Bonn.

How do I obtain my certificate?

Once you have uploaded all the necessary documents to Mobility-Online, we will check that they are complete. If nothing is missing, we will issue your certificate. While we are still unable to see anyone in person, we will send you your certificate by mail.

Intercultural Training

Interactive intercultural training teaches students theoretical input that they then immediately apply in exercises. Substantial intercultural experience would be an advantage but is not an essential requirement. The training is particularly recommended for people gearing up for a stay abroad but also for those studying in Germany.

Workshop dates for the summer semester now available online.

Contact

Vanessa Haag

zertifikat@uni-bonn.de

+49 228 73-6882

Certificate of Intercultural Competence

0.001

Poppelsdorfer Allee 53

53115 Bonn (Germany)

Office hours

Please make an appointment via eCampus33

Thursday\ 01:00 pm to 03:30 pm\ \
and by appointment

Certificate of Intercultural Competence

The certificate at a glance

Certificate components and content

Certificate components and content for teaching degrees

Process and registration

FAQs

Intercultural Training

Contact

Office hours

Links