Please note

The certificate program expired in December 2023.

Registration

Dr. Mirjam Berg

Sprachlernzentrum

Campus Deutz
Betzdorfer Straße 2
50679 Köln
Room ZN 3-11

+49 221-8275-4261
mirjam.berg@th-koeln.de

Office hours on campus
Tuesday, 11:00 am - 12:00 noon

Drei Studierende unterhalten sich in der Bibliothek (Image: iStock)

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Certificate "Sprache, Studium, Berufseinstieg"

Personal initiative, strong communication skills as well as the ability to work independently and solution-oriented – all of these skills are in great demand on the job market. The certificate "Language, Studies, Career Start" helps you to improve these skills and to attract the attention of potential employers. Get yourself ready for your studies and the job market in Germany!

Target Group

The Certificate is primarily aimed at refugees studying at TH Köln, but is also open to international students without a refugee background.

Benefits of the certificate

Logo Zertifikatsprogramm Integra (Image: TH Köln)

You will strengthen your communication skills in intercultural work and learning settings.
You will learn to assess your abilities and to apply strategies for self-directed learning and working.
You will develop your university-specific and business-related language competence.
You will learn strategies for finding internships and jobs on the German job market and for writing an unsolicited application.
You will compile an application portfolio which you can use to prepare your application documents.
You will train how to present yourself convincingly in a job interview.

Requirements

You can choose between two certificates which differ in scope. The small certificate comprises participation in a job application training as well as in further workshops from three topic fields. If you decide to acquire the extended certificate, you will participate in workshops from four topic fields, including "Successful Career Start".

Small Certificate

Participation in the following workshops (scope: at least 37 contact hours):

mandatory workshop "Job Application Training in German as a Foreign Language B2+" (20 contact hours)
mandatory workshop "Basics of Scientific Writing" from topic field 2
workshop of your choice from topic field 1
workshop of your choice from topic field 3

Other components:

participation in the Writing Consultation in German as a Foreign Language
compilation of a reflection portfolio
final meeting with the project coordinator

Extended Certificate

Participation in the following workshops (scope: at least 50 contact hours):

mandatory workshop "Job Application Training in German as a Foreign Language B2+" (20 contact hours)
at least one workshop of your choice from topic fields 1-4

Further components:

participation in the Writing Consultation in German as a Foreign Language
complilation of a reflection portfolio
final meeting with the project coordinator

Topic Fields

Participation in the workshops will be proven by a certificate of attendance.
All workshops can also be attended independently of the certificate.

Topic Field 1: Studying at a German University

Strengthen your communication skills in intercultural work and study settings and learn how to organize your studies independently.

Topic Field 2: Scientific Language and Academic Writing in German and English

Train your university-specific and business-related writing skills and expand your oral argumentation skills to be convincing both in your studies and in your job.

Topic Field 3: Finding an internship and starting a business

Learn how to find an internship, find out about opportunities for starting a business and try out innovative working methods from the start-up sector.

Topic Field 4: Successful Career Start

Get to know different forms of application procedures, become familiar with German business etiquette and train how to convince the employer in a job interview.

Further Workshops

These workshops can also be credited for the certificate.

Other Components of the Small and Extended Certificate

Writing Consultation in German as a Foreign Language

You are currently preparing your application documents or you have to write a seminar paper or even your thesis? We would like to support you in shaping your writing process through reflection, analysis and self-directed expansion of strategies and techniques in such a way that you will be better able to write scientific texts independently.
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Compilation of a Reflection Portfolio

In the reflection portfolio you will document the competences that you have acquired. The portfolio includes the following components:

short letter of motivation
documentation of participation in the required workshops
documentation of a peer-to-peer interview on how to find an internship
two applications
a consultation meeting with the head of your study program
reflection on your participation in the Writing Consultation in German as a Foreign Language

You will receive a detailed guide and a portfolio template when you register for the certificate program.

Final Meeting

In the final meeting with the project coordinator you will talk about your reflection portfolio and you will have the opportunity to evaluate the certificate program.

Funding

The program is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung) within the framework of the Integra - Integrating Refugees in Higher Education program and supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

Funded by: Logo des BMBF