PunktUm
The History of PunktUm
In 1998, the PunktUm project - Counselling and Training for International Students was founded at Bielefeld University.
The background to this was the education policy debate about increasing the attractiveness of Germany as a place to study for international students and the criticism of the support system at German universities that was discussed in this context: While this already caused problems for German students, the difficulties for foreign students were exacerbated by the general conditions of studying abroad, the differences between the educational systems and the foreign language of the studies.
Since its beginnings, the PunktUm project has therefore been concerned with providing international students with a permanent contact and (language) counselling centre. Interdisciplinary and subject-specific, in groups or individual consultations, the standards of academic work and writing customary in Germany are taught and practised in a "protected space".
Initially, the PunktUm project was based on the successful model of the Bielefeld Writing Laboratory (Schreiblabor). Parts of the concept were adapted for the needs of non-native-speaking students. Over the years, a variety of other formats have been developed and adapted to the changing conditions resulting from the increasing internationalisation of studies and teaching (Bologna Process, English-language teaching, etc.).
Today, international students, graduates and visiting scholars at Bielefeld University have a wide range of opportunities at their disposal:
- Target group-specific German courses for doctoral students, visiting researchers in English-language 'graduate schools'
- Special offers for exchange students within the framework of international university cooperation agreements
- Workshops and courses on academic writing and scientific work in German as a foreign language - differentiated according to subject and language requirements for international students in Bachelor's, Master's, Magister, Diplom and doctoral programmes
- Further training for multipliers on sub-areas of project work
Lecturers are supported with the following concerns: with regard to language support for international students and with regard to planning international cooperation with student and lecturer exchanges. PunktUm clarifies, for example, the linguistic requirements for participation in German-language courses and supports the subjects in planning and implementing appropriate German language courses.
The PunktUm project has been and continues to be financed by various third-party donors (e.g. the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, DAAD) or by internal university contributions.
The PunktUm staff are in contact with relevant counselling institutions and language centres within and outside the university (e.g. FaDaF - Fachverband Deutsch als Fremdsprache, KUSS - Kooperation zur universitären Sprech- und Schreibförderung für internationale Studierende, the European Association for the teaching of Academic Writing) in order to exchange and further develop experiences and offers.
The presentation of the PunktUm concept at relevant professional events as well as the awards of the project as a good practice model at GATE Germany and on the communication platform of the International Offices have contributed to the fact that the innovative Bielefeld model of a study-integrated language support programme for international students is recognised throughout Germany and serves as a model for the establishment of similar support structures in many places.