Read news from all programs on various topics, dates, deadlines, events and more.
This year, the Humboldt International Campus brought together hundreds of international students from across the globe in six dynamic mobility formats. From academic courses and language classes to research and start-up internships, and parliamentary internships with the Bundestag, we offered opportunities that inspired growth, fostered cultural exchange, and built lifelong connections. We also deepened our partnerships with universities worldwide, creating tailored programs and fostering long-lasting collaborations. Relive 2024’s highlights with stories and photos below.
Wide range of seminar topics In 2024, international program students and local HU students worked together in Berlin Perspectives on exciting seminar topics from different subject perspectives. Each semester, we offer ten interdisciplinary seminars, most of which are held in English. These seminars were once again of great interest among students in 2024.
Quality of teaching After Berlin Perspectives lecturer Azakhiwe Z. Nocanda received the Award for Excellence in Teaching of Humboldt-Universität last year, four Berlin Perspectives lecturers were nominated by students for the Award in 2024. We are happy with this recognition of the quality of the program and congratulate George Athanasopoulos, nominated for the course 'From BenaBena to Berlin: Principles of Transcultural Ethnography', Julia de Freitas Sampaio for 'An Immigrant Story', Samuel Perea-Díaz for 'Mapping Berlin: Geography of Sound', and again Azakhiwe Z. Nocanda for the course '(in) Visibly Black: Understanding Race, Racism and the Politics of Belonging in Berlin'.
International teaching concepts On 27 June 2024, the Humboldt Teaching Day, Berlin Perspectives lecturer Samuel Perea-Díaz, who was nominated for the HU Award for Excellence in Teaching, presented his seminar concept for the course 'Mapping Berlin: Geography of Sound'. The event, 'Caleidoscope of International Teaching Concepts, ' showcased the diverse range of international teaching at Humboldt-Universität. Monika Sonntag, the program coordinator of Berlin Perspectives, moderated it.
Our global winter and summer sessions The winter and summer sessions of HUWISU took place in January, June, July, and August this year. For the summer school, 18 unique courses taught by 33 lecturers were offered. These courses were benefitted by almost 370 participants coming from 172 universities and 50 different countries. All sessions covered intensive and semi-intensive German-language courses along with courses on history, politics, policymaking, art, museums, architecture, sustainability, governance, literature, and human rights. As always, the courses had an equal blend of classroom-style learning and on-ground learning via relevant excursions. After the Welcome Session and alongside the courses, the students indulged in numerous city tours, museum visits, and cultural exposures, and finally, they ended their program with the Farewell Party. Some were bid adieu in true Olympics style - on a boat!
HUWISU – DAAD Scholarships The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) supports the “Summer Schools in Germany” program with funds from the Federal Foreign Office (AA). Every year, DAAD provides scholarships to deserving candidates. This summer 83 (20%) participants of the summer school were awarded a scholarship by DAAD. These participants came from 80 different universities and 65 countries. They spent four weeks in the intensive (German) language course, joined the other program students on excursions, and were immersed in the culture of Berlin during their time with HUWISU.
HUWISU and the University of Sydney sessions HUWISU has a special collaboration with the University of Sydney. The Experience Germany Program is exclusively designed and conducted for students of the University of Sydney. More than 50 USYD students visited us for two weeks in the summer and indulged in intensive German language studies, lectures on German history, politics, urban development, and several cultural outings. Another group of 60 USYD students is currently in Berlin – to benefit from the HUWISU classes and enjoy the Christmas markets.
Humboldt Internship Program 2024: A Memorable Journey for International Student Researchers The Humboldt Internship Program offered more than thirty internship opportunities in eight different sectors (e.g., natural sciences, media, cultural studies, musicology, politics, and start-ups) this year. We received applications from around the globe, out of which 32 student researchers from 27 universities and 21 different countries were selected to spend three months conducting their research or start-up internship within the varied groups at Humboldt-Universität. A grand program event culminated the session wherein the program participants presented their research to an audience of students, supervisors, and invited guests. With their pitches and posters, they impressed the audience with their knowledge and enthusiasm.
From August to November, the Humboldt Internship Program brought together talented Brown University (Rhode Island, USA) students for an enriching cultural and professional experience in Berlin. Participants immersed themselves in German language classes and internships across various fields, gaining valuable skills and cross-cultural insights. The group started with a two-week orientation course, focusing on sessions on German history and culture, skill development, and intercultural training. Highlights included cultural excursions and the internships themselves – The students’ dedication, curiosity, and enthusiasm were truly inspiring, making the program a great success.
Humboldt Perspectives Study Abroad: Global cooperation – global competence Continuing international partnerships In 2024, the Humboldt Perspectives Study Abroad Program once again welcomed international students for a four-month period from August to December. This marked the continuation of the program's successful cooperation with partners such as AIFS (American Institute for Foreign Study) and IISMA (Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards).
Diversity in the international classroom What does diversity mean for teaching in the international classroom? This question was discussed by HPSA lecturers Azakhiwe Z. Nocanda, Dr Betiel Wasihun and Dr Mai Lin Tjoa-Bonatz during a delegation visit from AIFS and US universities. It became evident that the diverse international perspectives of teachers and students enhance the quality of teaching at the Humboldt International Campus.
Intercultural Learning Experience in Berlin As part of an intercultural training course, international students were encouraged to reflect on their personal experiences of studying abroad and the new perspectives they had developed as a result. The seminars themselves combined theoretical content with learning experiences in the city of Berlin on numerous excursions.
An eventful year in the IPS programs The International Parliamentary Scholarship (IPS) once again offered a varied program for the scholarship holders this year. The exchange between the German MPs and the international participants began with a welcome to this year's IPS scholarship holders in the German Bundestag. Prior to this, the scholarship holders attended the ‘University Day’ at Humboldt-Universität to find out about study programs and career opportunities and discussed how to deal with global crises in small groups.
Highlights included a study trip to Bonn, a meeting with Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the festive reception in the Paul-Löbe-Haus, where participants presented dance, song and culinary highlights from their home countries. Science and culture were not neglected either - be it at lectures on the Global South or a reading of Macedonian literature organized by three IPS scholarship holders at Humboldt-Universität.
The participants from southern Africa and the Arab states also had the opportunity to get to know political Berlin and actors from academia and civil society during their month-long program. For example, the scholarship holders from the African program visited the Forum Willy Brandt, while the group from the Arab states found out about study and scholarship opportunities at Humboldt-Universität.
This multi-faceted year shows how the IPS program combines political education, scientific exchange and intercultural learning.
The Humboldt International Campus welcomed ten participants to the Franco-German Parliamentary Internship in 2024. The scholarship holders spend the winter semester at Humboldt-Universität and join afterwards the International Parliamentary Scholarship (IPS) program, which is organized jointly with the German Bundestag.
One highlight for the participants of the 2023/24 cohort was the organization of the ‘University Day’: Over several weeks, they worked on a topic, researched, contacted experts and developed a suitable format for the event. Under the title ‘Turning point: How do states deal with the multiple global crises of our time?’, the IPS scholarship holders discussed various challenges of our time in small groups following a keynote speech by Dr Antonios Souris (Freie Universität Berlin). The participants of the Franco-German Parliamentary Scholarship program took over the moderation. Conceived by scholarship holders for scholarship holders, the event was met with great interest from the audience thanks to its interactive format.
The new participants started their program year in October. This year, an introductory week took place for the first time, during which the participants visited the Centre Marc Bloch, the Centre Français de Berlin, and the radio station Radio France Internationale, for example. Another highlight was a visit to the French Embassy, where even the ambassador, H.E. François Delattre, had time for a brief conversation.
Five new participants arrived from France at the beginning of October and are now spending the winter and summer semesters in Berlin. During the introductory week, the participants visited the Centre Marc Bloch, the Centre Français de Berlin and the radio station Radio France Internationale. The highlight was a visit to the French Embassy, where even the ambassador, H.E. François Delattre, had time for a brief conversation.
In the winter semester, the participants attend courses at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. From March 2025, the students will be part of the International Parliamentary Scholarship programme (IPS), which is organised by the German Bundestag in cooperation with Humboldt-Universität. The core of this programme is a three-month internship with a member of the German Bundestag.
More information on the Franco-German Parliamentary Internship Programme can be found here.
More information on the International Parliamentary Scholarship can be found on the website of the German Bundestag.
At the end of July, almost 100 scholarships holders returned to their home countries. We look back on an interesting and eventful programme year:
After a varied introductory programme, the scholarship holders from 42 countries completed an internship in the office of a member of the German Bundestag and even accompanied members of parliament in their constituencies. Here at Humboldt-Universität, they were able to take advantage of the wide range of courses on offer and receive advice on university careers and further education opportunities at the „Day of the Universities“. Moderated by the French scholarship holders of the Franco-German Parliamentary Internship (DFPP) programme, the participants also discussed in small groups the question of how states deal with the global crises of our time.
Moreover, the IPS team at Humboldt-Universität organised lectures at the Bundestag, where scholars from Freie Universität, Humboldt-Universität and Technische Universität presented their main areas of research. The scholarship holders explored issues related to planetary health, learned about different housing concepts by Indian architects, and gained insight into healthcare management. An extensive cultural programme is also part of the IPS. At the IPS reception, for example, the scholarship holders organised an evening of singing, dancing, sketches and culinary delights from their home countries. On this year's study trip to Bonn, they also got to know the former capital city by visiting the former Bundestag and the „Haus der Geschichte“, a museum dedicated to German history after 1945.
We hope that the scholarship holders will leave the IPS with new knowledge and perspectives, valuable impulses for their future and new friendships and we wish them all the best for the future!
