Staff Mobility (international exchange programme)

Exchange of experiences at a European partner university (“Staff Mobility”) as part of the European ERASMUS programme.

What is the international exchange programme for?

The University of Cologne is becoming more and more international every day in line with the university strategy. The proportion of foreign students and researchers and the number of international partnerships are steadily increasing. International experience is also growing in importance for employees in general administration. The focus here is on improving language and intercultural skills as well as increasing mobility. To support this goal, the European ERASMUS programme offers funding opportunities for the exchange of experiences at a European partner university (“Staff Mobility”).

Who can use the programme?

The programme is aimed at all employees in Central Administration as well as employees from the faculties and institutes. Main requirement: the work carried out may only be of an administrative nature. There are other exchange programmes for research employees. Please contact the academic International Office (Division 9) for information on this.

Procedure and format

If you would like to take part, we first of all need a letter of motivation from you. Why do you want to take part in the programme? What benefits do you see for yourself personally, your department or your division? At which European university would you like to gain experience? Which areas would you like to get to know there? Convince us and your supervisors of your arguments! You should be able to do this on one or one and a half A4 pages. We then need your manager to approve your trip. If you have not yet been accepted by a university, the research and enquiry is now the next important step for you. We require the acceptance from your host university in addition to the papers mentioned above by mid-April. The trip, which usually lasts one week, must be completed by the end of September.

The most important thing: a host university

There are two ways to stay at a host university. The first is an individual stay, during which you and the partner university agree on logical areas to visit and draw up an individual schedule. This alternative has the major advantage of offering a very detailed insight and exchange with the employees of relevance to you. The other alternative is to participate in a group format, which is offered by many universities. However, the topics within a group are usually not 100% suited to the participants, as the groups tend to be composed heterogeneously. The advantage, however, is that you can meet 20-30 (sometimes more) colleagues from all over Europe. New, bilateral exchange opportunities may arise from this.

Formalities and applications? Don’t be put off!

There are one or two more forms that you have to fill in, but we will explain these in person. All in all, the administrative effort for you is less than it seems at first glance. What is important is that you take the first steps. Write to your desired university (and possibly an alternative university) and follow up by telephone! It is possible that the processing of your application may be delayed otherwise, or that your application has not arrived at the right place. So, keep at it and call a few days after sending your application. Or: first call and then apply in writing. For further details please refer to our flyer, the website of the Department for International Mobility or call us! http://international.uni-koeln.de/10179.html

What is the international exchange programme for?

The University of Cologne is becoming more and more international every day in line with the university strategy. The proportion of foreign students and researchers and the number of international partnerships are steadily increasing. International experience is also growing in importance for employees in general administration. The focus here is on improving language and intercultural skills as well as increasing mobility. To support this goal, the European ERASMUS programme offers funding opportunities for the exchange of experiences at a European partner university (“Staff Mobility”).

Who can use the programme?

The programme is aimed at all employees in Central Administration as well as employees from the faculties and institutes. Main requirement: the work carried out may only be of an administrative nature. There are other exchange programmes for research employees. Please contact the academic International Office (Division 9) for information on this.

Procedure and format

If you would like to take part, we first of all need a letter of motivation from you. Why do you want to take part in the programme? What benefits do you see for yourself personally, your department or your division? At which European university would you like to gain experience? Which areas would you like to get to know there? Convince us and your supervisors of your arguments! You should be able to do this on one or one and a half A4 pages. We then need your manager to approve your trip. If you have not yet been accepted by a university, the research and enquiry is now the next important step for you. We require the acceptance from your host university in addition to the papers mentioned above by mid-April. The trip, which usually lasts one week, must be completed by the end of September.

The most important thing: a host university

There are two ways to stay at a host university. The first is an individual stay, during which you and the partner university agree on logical areas to visit and draw up an individual schedule. This alternative has the major advantage of offering a very detailed insight and exchange with the employees of relevance to you. The other alternative is to participate in a group format, which is offered by many universities. However, the topics within a group are usually not 100% suited to the participants, as the groups tend to be composed heterogeneously. The advantage, however, is that you can meet 20-30 (sometimes more) colleagues from all over Europe. New, bilateral exchange opportunities may arise from this.

Formalities and applications? Don’t be put off!

There are one or two more forms that you have to fill in, but we will explain these in person. All in all, the administrative effort for you is less than it seems at first glance. What is important is that you take the first steps. Write to your desired university (and possibly an alternative university) and follow up by telephone! It is possible that the processing of your application may be delayed otherwise, or that your application has not arrived at the right place. So, keep at it and call a few days after sending your application. Or: first call and then apply in writing. For further details please refer to our flyer, the website of the Department for International Mobility or call us! http://international.uni-koeln.de/10179.html

Downloads

Contact
Department 43

or:

Department 93