International Summer University
July 11 - Aug 2, 2024
International Summer University (ISU) 2024
This exciting, three-week long International Summer University is open to international and German undergraduate and graduate students of any study program. It is taught in English and includes courses such as:
- Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainability (undergraduate)
- Marketing: Understanding of Consumers and Markets (undergraduate/graduate)
- Organisational Culture and Behaviour (undergraduate)
- Process Improvement (undergraduate)
- Global Healthcare Management (graduate)
- Clinical Perspectives in Physiotherapy (undergraduate)
- Applied AI for Non-Programmers (undergraduate)
- The Composite Materials (undergraduate/graduate)
Participants will choose one course which is then combined with classes on German language, lectures on 'Facts about Germany and Osnabr¨¹ck' and an 'Intercultural Competence' workshop. Company visits, study trips to Berlin and to cities nearby as well as cultural events complete the program.
Courses
Please choose one of the following courses.
Learning objectives:
- Develop an understanding of the function and importance of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainability
- Understand critical thinking and analysis against historical developments and paradigmatic financial and economic thought
- Understand basic theories of how many of our business practices work counterproductively to a sustainable environment
- Appreciate the diverse institutional and societal responses to CSR and Sustainability in the EU and the USA
- Understand the current societal design of the consumer economy and its limited future
- Develop a mindset of solutions as opposed to disaster
- Development of communication, self-management and group working skills
The module fosters the following soft skill competencies:
- Reading and comprehension skills of academic literature
- Communication skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Team work in international groups
- Critical thinking skills
The complete course description.
Course instructor is Prof. Dr. Bruce Kibler from Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania.
At the end of the module students should be able to:
- Develop a mindset of marketing. This encompasses knowledge of and the ability to apply key marketing frameworks and tools for analyzing customers and competitors
- Develop insights into segmentation, selection of target markets, and positioning strategies
- Understand how to develop actionable marketing mix strategies. Once a positioning strategy is developed, you should be able to integrate product, price, promotion, and place strategies to meet the needs of the target market
The module fosters the following soft skill competencies:
- Strategic thinking
- Marketing communication
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Problem solving
- Marketing and global mindset
Course instructor is Dr. Phani Tej Adidam from the University of Nebraska Omaha.
The complete course description.
Students who successfully complete this module will be able to:
- can define the term culture and can discuss some of the comparative ways of differentiating cultures.
- can describe the concept of cultural values, and relate some of the international differences, similarities and changes occurring in terms of both work and managerial values.
- can define exactly what is meant by organizational culture and discuss the interaction between national and MNC culture.
- can identify and apply the major models of organizational cultures.
- can understand different sources of growth in different markets.
- can understand different strategic choices to be taken for success.
- can understand the dynamics of different markets.
The module fosters the following soft skills competencies:
- review examples of verbal communication styles and explain the importance of message interpretation
- analyze the common downward and upward communication flows used in international communication
- examine the language, perception, culture, and nonverbal barriers to effective international communications.
The complete course description
Course insctructor is Ravinder Kaur-Lahrmann from Osnabr¨¹ck University of Applied Sciences
At the end of the module students should be able to:
- Understand the value of unconditionally committing to a long-term management philosophy
- Learn the fundamentals of TPS and develop an understanding of how TPS creates an organizational culture focused on continuous improvement
- Understand the meaning of ¡°waste¡± in manufacturing and learn how to develop systems and processes aimed at continuously identifying and eliminating waste
- Learn the ¡°built-in quality¡± concept or jidoka, and understand how to effectively build quality into production processes
- Learn how the systematic application of the TPS management principles effectively contributes to achieving operational excellence
- Formulate and effectively solve, using the management principles of the Toyota Production System, real-life manufacturing problems
- Apply in a practical situation core tools of TPS such as value stream mapping and A3 Thinking
- Design a production system or process that meets real-world constraints such as financial, ergonomics and safety, quality, manufacturability, and sustainability
The module fosters the following soft skill competencies:
- Problem solving and continuous improvement thinking
- Building quality into processes
- Team work and communication skills
- Waste elimination and lean thinking
- Leadership and people empowerment
- Customer centricity and organizational learning culture
Course instructor is Dr. Marco Lara Garcia from the University of Southern Indiana.
The complete course description.
At the end of the module students should be able to:
- understand how various hospitals systems and healthcare organizations provide services to their patients
- understand the different levels of administration within health insurance
- be able to compare and contrast different models of leadership in healthcare and provide strengths and weaknesses of each type of health insurance
The module fosters the following soft skill competencies:
- Leadership development
- Communication skills (e.g. reading, discussion, written communication)
- Strategic planning and problem-solving skills
- Analytical thinking and evidence-based research
Course instructor is La Don Jones from the National University San Diego
The complete course description.
At the end of the module students should:
- be able to understand the differences in physiotherapy between different countries regarding autonomy, education, political and intercultural aspects and clinical practice
- be able to understand differences in health care systems between different countries
- have gained enhanced practical skills and clinical knowledge in the assessment and management of patients with neuro-musculoskeletal pain discorders
- be able to demonstrate improved diagnostic skills for daily routine
- have deepened their knowledge in the application of research methods in musculoskeletal physiotherapy
The module fosters the following soft skill competencies:
- Team working skill in internationale groups
- Reading, writing and comprehension skills
- Communication skills (e.g. presentations, written communication)
- Critical thinking and problem solving skills
Course Instructor is Prof. Dr. Brigitte Tampin from Osnabr¨¹ck University of Applied Sciences.
The complete course description.
Please take a look at a short video which physiotherapy students made during ISU 2018.
At the end of the course, students should be able to:
- summarize the main concepts of artificial intelligence (AI) focusing on artificial neural network (ANN)
- describe the implementation pipeline from data sets to applied ANNs via training of the ANNs
- implement ANNs for classification tasks, time-series perdition, and continues learning
- create datasets (from real data) fitting the needs of AI
- know the challenges and limitations of ANNs
- understand the potential effects of AI on everyday life
- understand evaluations figures of AI
- distinguish whether or not the use of AI might outperform classical methods
- grasp issues based on unbalanced data set design, overfitting, underfitting as well as overgeneralization
- debate the future of AI in the context of computing power, privacy, application domains, and ethical aspects
The course fosters the following soft skill competencies:
- reading and comprehension skills of AI-related papers and textbooks
- prototypical implementation of ANN incl. training as well as evaluation of these networks
- communication skills (e.g., class discussion, presentation of AI concepts incl. code snippets)
- summarizing coding and results in paper-like documents or scientific note pads
- teamwork in international groups
The complete course description.
Course instructor is Prof. Dr. Julius Sch?ning from Osnabr¨¹ck University of Applied Sciences.
At the end of the module students should be able to:
- Become familiar with the advantages and limitations of fiber reinforced composites in comparison with conventional structural materials.
- Use stress-strain linear elastic constituitive relations in structure analysis, including isotropic, anisotropic, orthotropic, and transverse isotropic relations.
- Understand coordinate transformation of stress, strain, stiffness and compliance matrices
- Understand various theoretical methods for predicting effective elastic properties and their relative advantages and limitations.
- Use strength-based failure theories to determine the onset of failure in composite materials.
- Determine the elastic behavior of multidirectional laminates
- Understand the importance of fracture mechanics and the shortcomings of strength-based failure theories.
The module fosters the following soft skill competencies:
- Communication
- Problem solving and analytical thinking
- Teamwork and collaboration
Course instructor is Dr. Joseph Washington from the University of Maryland Baltimore County
The complete course description.
Your choice is combined with:
German Language
Learning and deepening the German language knowledge of the corresponding level.
The course fosters the following soft skill competencies:
- Speaking and comprehension skills
- Communication skills: Everyday life language
- Problem-solving skills
- Team working skills in international groups
Course Instructor: N.N.
The German language training is not available for students who choose ""Special Food Technologies. They will get English language training as mentioned below.
Workshop: Intercultural Competence
At the end of the workshop students should be able to:
- give examples of ways in which culture shapes thinking, feelings and actions.
- name the main differences between individualist and collectivist cultures.
- define the concept ¡°critical incident¡±.
- apply multiple perspectives and generate and test hypotheses about human interaction in intercultural encounters.
The workshop fosters the following core competencies:
- analyzing problems and generating solutions as a member of an intercultural team.
- using theoretical constructs to analyze interpersonal dynamics in intercultural contexts.
- using theoretical constructs to reflect about one¡¯s personal views and conduct in intercultural settings.
Workshop instructor is Dr. Debbie Coetzee-Lachmann from Smart Communication Training
Lecture: Facts about Germany and Osnabr¨¹ck
This is a Team-Challenge. Participants will get an introduction to the topic at Welcome Session and an overview how to research and discover the main topics:
- Facts and figures about Osnabr¨¹ck/Germany
- Current topics in Osnabr¨¹ck/Germany
- Historical topics in Osnabr¨¹ck/Germany
- Economy in Osnabr¨¹ck
Task: Groups collect facts and figures about Osnabr¨¹ck and Germany independently during the program period.
Presentation and evaluation of results including determining the winning team at Farewell Session
The lecture?fosters the following soft skill competencies:
- Reading and comprehension skills
- Independent research skills
- Critical thinking and problem-solving skills as well as team working skills in international groups
Course Instructor: Prof. Dr. Kathrin Loer
Study Trip to Berlin
3 day trip to Berlin: Learn more about Germany's culture, history and politics by exploring the capital and taking part in, for instance, a guided city tour and a visit of the Building of the German Parliament.
At the end of the study trip the students should be able to:
- Know the main geography of Berlin
- Be familiar with the key historic sights of the city
- Get an insight into the the role of Berlin in the recent history of Germany¡®s division and reunification
- Visit of the Jewish Museum Berlin
The lecture fosters the following soft skill competencies:
- Critical thinking and reflecting in international groups
- Sensitivity to democratic values in society
Course: Using English correctly and appropriately in academic presentations
This course offer is only valid for students of the course ¡°Special Food Technologies¡±. It replaces the German language training for them.
The aim of the course is to support students in preparing the presentations they will be giving in the context of the summer university.
Students will learn and practice:
- general academic vocabulary typically used in presentations.
- strategies used to communicate complex content in a clear way.
- strategies used to capture and keep the audience¡¯s attention.
The course Instructor is Dr. Debbie Coetzee-Lachmann from Smart Communication Training.
International students taking one of the courses on-site as a study abroad option will receive 5 ECTS credit points. Osnabr¨¹ck students will receive 5 ECTS credits points according to the provisions of their degree program.
Together with the ECTS credits students receive a Certificate of Attendance. The International Summer University will provide you with a transcript of records so the course taken in Osnabr¨¹ck can be recognized by your home university.
During the three weeks there will be graded presentations, term papers or team work assignments. At the end there will be final exams.
Attendance and successful completion of the program are requirements for receiving ECTS credits and the Certificate of Attendance.
Cultural Program and Study Trips
The course work is supplemented by visits to important German companies. Furthermore, we want you to get to know more about Germany and the Germans. Therefore, various activities in the evening and at the weekend like sports and games, international cooking events, day trips to other cities and a two day trip to Berlin will take place. German student tutors will accompany you and make sure that you will get to know Osnabr¨¹ck.
- Duration
3 days
- Fees
for Osnabr¨¹ck students: 240€
for international students: included in the program fee
- Fees include
transfer by bus or train
accommodation and breakfast
Berlin sightseeing tour
- Duration
2 days
- Fees
240 €
- Fees include
transfer by train
accommodation and breakfast
Hamburg sightseeing tour
- Duration
3 days
- Fees
350 €
- Fees include
transfer by bus or train (please make your own departure arrangements from Amsterdam)
accommodation and breakfast
sightseeing tour
Information for Osnabr¨¹ck Students
The International Summer University is a three week intensive program taught in English. It offers several courses in the field of International Business, Economics, Physiotherapy, Healthcare Management, Food Technology and Engineering.
The International Summer University is open for international students from all around the world and for students of Osnabr¨¹ck University of Applied Sciences. Gaining intercultural experience by working together with international students in small groups is one of the benefits of ISU. Moreover, it is a good opportunity for students who consider going abroad for a study term to get in touch and network with international students. Last but not least, you will receive ECTS credits for taking part in ISU.
Courses and academic recognition
You have the choice between the following courses, please pick one:
- Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainability (undergraduate)
- Marketing: Understanding of Consumers and Markets (undergraduate/graduate)
- Organisational Culture and Behaviour (undergraduate)
- Process Improvement (undergraduate)
- Global Healthcare Management (graduate)
- Clinical Perspectives in Physiotherapy (undergraduate)
- Applied AI for Non-Programmers (undergraduate)
- The Composite Materials (undergraduate/graduate)
Your choice is combined with a obligatory lecture on ¡®Facts about Germany and Osnabr¨¹ck¡¯ and 'Intercultural and Interdisciplinary Competence'. The German language part is irrelevant for German speaking students.
Your participation in the ISU can be recognized towards your degree provided that the chosen ISU course corresponds to a module in the curriculum of your degree program. Students from the Faculty of Business Management and Social Sciences will be able to have the ISU credited as two block weeks (national and international). Therefore, students must submit (after the ISU) an application for recognition of an extra-curricular achievement and an ISU certificate of participation to the Office of the University Registrar.
ISU course | module in degree program* |
---|---|
Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainability | Betriebliches Nachhaltigkeitsmanagement (5 ECTS) International and national Blookweek (5 ECTS) |
Marketing: Understanding of Consumers and Markets | Master Management Non Profit Organisations: Marketing and Public Relations (5 ECTS) Bachelor ?ffentliches Management: ?ffentliches Marketing (5 ECTS) International and national Blookweek (5 ECTS) |
Organisational Culture and Behaviour | Cultural Management (5 ECTS) International and national Blookweek (5 ECTS) |
Process Improvement | Management Konzepte (5 ECTS) / Management Concepts (5 ECTS) International and national Blookweek (5 ECTS) |
Global Healthcare Management | for students Bachelor "Betriebswirtschaft im Gesundheitswesen": two International Blockweeks (2 x 2,5 ECTS) for students Master "Management in der Gesundheitsversorgung": ?Gesundheitspolitische Steuerung des Gesundheitssystems und intern. Gesundheitssystemvergleich¡° (5 ECTS) oder ?Gesundheits?konomische Evaluation¡° (5 ECTS). Vorausgesetzt das ISU-Modul wurde nicht schon in einem BA-Studiengang hier an der Å·ÖÞÌåÓýÔÚÏß_Å·ÖÞ¹Ú¾üÁªÈü-Ͷע*Ö±²¥ belegt und wurde dort schon auf Module angerechnet. |
Clinical Perspectives in Physiotherapy | The ISU takes place at the level of English 4, so admission to E4 is necessary as a prerequisite for admission. In case the result of the online test shows "only" admission to E3, the test result can be checked right at the beginning of the lecture in a placement interview with an English lecturer and an upgrade can be made ("admission to E4"). Further information can be received by email. Physio participants so admitted will apply in a Learning Agreement for credit for successful participation in ISU for English 3 (Specialized Language Physio). The corresponding overall grade for the module results from the content grade. (5 ECTS) |
Applied AI for Non-Programmers | Applied AI for Non-Programmers (5 ECTS) |
The Composite Materials | For certain DVW-Bachelorcourses and Engineeringcourses as compulsory elective selectable (5 ECTS) Faserverbundwerkstoffe im Bachelor-Studiengang Kunststofftechnik (5 ECTS) Leichtbau auf Basis von Kunststoffen im Master-Studiengang Angewandte Werkstoffwissenschaften (5 ECTS) |
*If you wish recognition for another module of Osnabr¨¹ck University of Applied Sciences, please contact us by email. We will then clarify internally the possibilities.
If you choose to take the ISU course as an "Zusatzfach" it will not appear on your transcript, but you will receive a ISU Certificate. Please talk to the coordinator of your degree program about it.
In order to have the ISU course recognized towards your degree, a learning agreement has to be signed. For that purpose, we will send you the respective form after you registered for participation in ISU. You are then required to fill it in, have it signed and return it to us by May 31.
Attendance is compulsory for the entire programme.
Requirements
As all courses, except the German language courses, will be taught in English. A proof of the ability to study in English must be submitted by all those students whose mother tongue is not English and who do not study in an English taught program. If the english level cannot be determined from the transcript of records, you can submit the DAAD language certificate, which you should have completed by a language lecturer. The placement test offered by the university to assign you to an English course level cannot be accepted, as it is usually taken without supervision.
Registration
Please register online by April 14. In your application you will indicate the course you would like to take, giving us your 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice. Depending on your study profile and on the number of applications for each course we will try to offer you a place in the course of your first choice. Please note that a course will not be offered if fewer than 15 students apply.
Places are limited for Osnabr¨¹ck students. In case the number of applicants exceeds the number of places, the applications will be evaluated in the order in which they were received. Applicants will be placed on a waiting list and notified if a spot becomes available.
Fees
The program fee for all students of Osnabr¨¹ck University of Applied Sciences is 100 Euro. This amount covers extra curricular activities. Participating in the ISU without paying the lump sum is not possible. Tuition fee for taking part in the courses will not be charged.
By participating in the extra curricular program the team spirit will be fostered and the cooperation of Osnabr¨¹ck and international students will be strengthened.
The obligatory extra curricular activities include:
- welcome session
- team building event
- one ISU joint program on current topics
- farewell session
Furthermore Osnabr¨¹ck students choose 2 of 5 activites to participate. With the acceptence the students will be asked to select them:
- campus tour with international students
- guided city tour in Osnabr¨¹ck
- workshop in Botanical garden (e.g. from cocoa to chocolate)
- swimming
- university sports (e.g. Beach Volleyball or Yoga)
Registration and Requirements
We are happy that you are interested in taking part in the ISU 2024. Please check the information on:
The number of students per course is limited. Please note that a course will not be offered if fewer than 15 students apply. Applications are accepted until April 14, 2024. To register for the International Summer University, students must complete the online registration form.
You will receive the Letter of Acceptance by April 17, 2024 at the latest.
The following documents will have to be uploaded by April 14, 2024 in our application portal after your online registration:
- a short CV
- transcript of records
- proof of English competence (only for students whose mother tongue is not English and who do not study in an English taught program at their home university, for details please see below)
All documents should be:
- in English
- file size: maximal 5 MB
- file format: PDF
Participants receive an invoice from Osnabr¨¹ck University of Applied Sciences directly with their notice of acceptance. Only participants from certain partner universities pay their program fee to their home university.
Program fee: 1950 €
Invoices received by participants or partner universities are to be paid by the date indicated therein (usually 14 days from issue) to
- Recipient: Å·ÖÞÌåÓýÔÚÏß_Å·ÖÞ¹Ú¾üÁªÈü-Ͷע*Ö±²¥ Osnabrueck
- Bank: Sparkasse Osnabr¨¹ck, Wittekindstrasse 17-19, D-49074 Osnabr¨¹ck
- BIC: NOLADE22XXX
- IBAN: DE52265501050000615690
- Reference: Invoice Number, participant last name, first name
Please keep in mind that banks may charge service fees for international money transfers and these must be covered in full by the participant. Osnabr¨¹ck University of Applied Sciences will not assume any charges for the money transfers of participants and the Summer School fee must be received in full.
Cancellations of reserved places will attract the following cancellation fee:
Program fee for ISU on campus
If you cancel your registration or your reserved place before May 1, you will not be required to pay the program fee. If you cancel your reserved place on/after May 1 and before June 14, only 50% of the program fee is refundable.
If you cancel your reserved place on/after June 15 no program fee is refundable.
You must be enrolled either at a university abroad or at Osnabr¨¹ck University of Applied Sciences.
Please note that the ISU program is limited to three weeks and that acceptance does not imply admission to any other program of Osnabr¨¹ck University of Applied Sciences.
Students apply for the entire program of the International Summer University. The number of participants is limited. In your application you will indicate the course you would like to take, giving us your 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice. Depending on your study profile and on the number of applications for each course we will try to offer you a place in the course of your first choice. Please note that a course will not be offered if fewer than 15 students apply. In case the maximum number of participants is exceeded, applicants will be placed on a waiting list and notified if a place becomes available.
Students whose mother tongue is not English and who do not study in an English taught program at their home university will have to submit proof of English proficiency.
Attendance is compulsory for the entire programme.
As all courses, except the German language courses, will be taught in English. A proof of the ability to study in English must be submitted by all those students whose mother tongue is not English and who do not study in an English taught program at their home university.
In that case one of the following certificates is required:
- At least level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
- Internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL ¨C at least 87 points) http://www.ets.org/toefl
- Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC ¨C at least 750 points) http://www.toeic.com
- Cambridge Proficiency (CPE ¨C minimum grade: C)
- Cambridge Advanced (CAE ¨C minimum grade: B)
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS ¨C minimum grade: 6.0) http://www.ielts.org
- Business English Certificate (BEC 3 ¨C minimum grade: B)
Depending on the bilateral agreement your country has with Germany, you may or may not need a visa to enter Germany. Students from EU-countries do not require a visa. For all non-EU-students, the safest way to determine whether you need a visa is by means of the German Federal Foreign Office¡¯s website.
Also, there are different kinds of visa for different purposes. If you are participating in a short program of less than 90 days (e.g. a summer university or a German language course), you can apply for a ¡°Schengen Visa¡± which allows you to travel in all the ¡°Schengen Countries¡±. However, after 90 days you must leave the country. Therefore, if you are going to spend a semester or an entire study program with us, please make sure you apply for a ¡°National Visa¡± which is valid for more than 90 days. For more information, please get in touch with the German embassy or German consulate in your country of residence. You can find the addresses on the website of the German Federal Foreign Office.
Please make sure that you allow enough time for the application procedure. It may take about 8 weeks.
We require you to inform yourself in detail before your departure about your insurance coverage abroad and, if required, to take out the relevant insurances (health insurance, accidence insurance and liability insurance). Please be aware that participants of the International Summer University / the International Summer Lab are not insured by Osnabr¨¹ck University of Applied Sciences and the university does not assume any liability. Thus, participants are responsible for their own health, accident and liability insurance.
Due to COVID-19 we recommend to take out an appropriate travel cancellation insurance.
EU students must bring evidence of their health insurance. Please ask your health insurance company at home if your complete stay in Germany is covered by them. Usually you do not have to take on an additional health insurance policy, but you can obtain a "European Health Insurance Card" (EHIC) or equivalent from your insurer.
Contact
- ISU Academic Director
Prof. Dr. Kathrin Loer
Caprivistr. 30A
49076 Osnabr¨¹ck
E-Mail: isu@hs-osnabrueck.de
- ISU Coordinator
Alina Musielak
Albrechtstr. 30
49076 Osnabr¨¹ck
Phone: +49 (0)541 969-2988
Fax: +49 (0)541 969-3113
E-Mail: isu@hs-osnabrueck.de