NEOLAiA

Three weeks in Sweden, meeting new people, gaining fascinating insights into robotics and a day trip to Stockholm: for Tilman, a student at Bielefeld University, taking part in an international summer school was a special part of his studies. This short-term mobility programme was made possible through the NEOLAiA university alliance network. With the support of Bielefeld University’s International Office, it was also possible to cater for the additional needs arising from his personal circumstances.

Tilman is in his sixth semester at Bielefeld University. He first learnt about the opportunity to take part in the summer school through an email from the university. “After discussing it with my friends and family, who encouraged me, I decided to take part. Looking back, I’m really glad I did,” he says. Tilman lives with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare neuromuscular condition. In his daily life and in his studies, he relies on the support of personal assistants. His assistants therefore accompanied him during his stay in Sweden.

The summer school took place at Örebro University and focused on the topic of robotics. For Tilman, this was new territory: “I’d had little exposure to robotics during my studies so far. That made the summer school all the more interesting for me, as we participants were given an accessible yet comprehensive introduction to the subject.” The focus was, amongst other things, on localisation and navigation. The aim: for a robot to find its way autonomously through a maze.

Alongside the technical content, the international interaction was an important part of the experience for Tilman. “Of course, I wanted to learn about the summer school’s subject: robotics. At the same time, I was naturally also hoping to get to know Sweden.” He particularly remembers a joint outing with the other international students: “Working with the robots every day was great fun. But the best part was a day trip to Stockholm, together with some of the other students from the summer school.”

International mobility requires inclusive structures

For a trip like this to be possible, reliable support structures are needed alongside personal motivation and a willingness to organise things. The International Office at Bielefeld University was able to provide vital support in this regard. Tilman received particular assistance with his application for reimbursement of the so-called ‘actual costs’ for his assistants’ travel and accommodation expenses.

“The International Office was a great help in preparing the application for reimbursement of actual costs. The application form was explained to me in detail, and any questions I asked by email were answered quickly and helpfully,” he reports. And things went smoothly on the ground too. “The dishwasher in my flat in Örebro wasn’t working at the start of my stay. I sent a quick email to the relevant people, and the problem was sorted out straight away. Everything else went very well.”

An experience to remember

What stays with him most of all are the encounters, new academic insights and the experience of studying in a different place for a few weeks. For Tilman, it is therefore clear that a short-term mobility programme is well worth it: “I would recommend a short-term mobility programme to all students. It is incredibly enriching to get to know students from other countries. And, of course, it’s also great to travel abroad and receive financial support to do so.”

Tilman’s stay in Sweden demonstrates what international higher education can achieve: it opens up new academic perspectives, brings people from different countries together and creates experiences that shape students’ lives beyond their studies. The support provided by the University Alliance and the International Office helps to make international mobility inclusive.

Tilmans short-term mobility programme was made possible through the NEOLAiA university alliance network. With the support of Bielefeld University’s International Office, it was also possible to cater for the additional needs arising from his personal circumstances. Photo: Nienhaus