International Week at HdM Stuttgart

Three students with Finland-shirts on standing next to each other.
Bioproduct Engineering students Fanny Mäkitalo, Kristiina Rantakömi and Sara Räikkönen represented TAMK at the stand, where visitors could answer questions about TAMK and Finland.

In the last week of November, Marika Kyllönen, Harri Karvinen and Toni Pippola from TAMK had the opportunity to participate in the International Week organised by HdM (Hochschule der Medien) in Stuttgart, Germany. The visit provided an excellent opportunity to network with international colleagues and to get to know the German higher education scene.

HdM is an impressive example of practical German higher education. The campus is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and students work in close cooperation with local industry.

 

Local delicacies and German Christmas spirit

During the programme, we got to experience the authentic German culture. One of the highlights of Toni´s week was taking part in the traditional pretzel baking. We all got to taste his and the other workshop participants’ bakes during the first day’s get together at reBOOTS restaurant. Marika took part in the Secrets of the City walking tour, where the guide took to see sights that not even all Stuttgart residents know about.

Pretzels on the table.
A pretzel is a type of baked pastry made from dough that is commonly shaped into a knot.

Stuttgart’s famous Christmas market impressed with its size and atmosphere. A huge market spread across the city centre, full of traditional crafts, Christmas treats and warm drinks. Decorated stalls and thousands of lights created a magical atmosphere, representing the German Christmas tradition at its best.

A chritmas market with christmas lights in Stuttgart.
Christmas market in Stuttgart.

International Week – encounters and insights

International Week brought together teachers and experts around the world. During the event, the participants had the opportunity to participate in wide range of workshops and seminars, share best practices in international education, discuss the future needs and trends in education, and explore HdM’s modern learning environments.

The week was not only a professional experience, but also a cultural journey. Dinner discussions with colleagues provided valuable insights into the educational systems and cultures of different countries.

During the week, we experienced the best of German systematicity. Schedules were kept, and arrangements worked flawlessly. At the same time, the warm hospitality of the hosts made the visit particularly pleasant.

People in a univeristy campus looking at screen.
A picture from the campus of HdM (Hochschule der Medien) in Stuttgart, Germany.

Harri:

“Over those two days, I held workshops about music copyright, a subject that is difficult to both teach and learn. I tried to improve students’ understanding of the complexity of the subject through narratives, thus facilitating the assimilation of theoretical interpretations of the law.

During the visit, networking went very well. Astrid Drechsler from the Graz University in Austria gave an excellent lecture on podcasts and radio art, and she also followed my own lectures. At dinner on Wednesday, I met Dr. Felix Weissmuller from HdM and we discussed, among other things, whether his grandfather could be Johnny Weissmuller in the role of Tarzan (the answer was unfortunately no). At the Christmas market I met Sonya Hogan from University of Dublin, and we discussed a possible collaboration on media education programmes – Ireland could be a very nice partner for us. This business trip was both instructive and inspiring.  I gained valuable experience in international education and at the same time developed new partnerships with universities in different countries.”

Toni:

“I got new contacts for international cooperation, concrete ideas for improving teaching and possible future cooperation projects. During the week, my understanding of the German higher education system deepened. This visit further reinforced the importance of international cooperation in higher education. When I returned to Finland, my backpack was full of new ideas, contacts and energy for future projects.”

Marika:

“On Thursday, there was the Study Abroad fair. The fair was a hive of activity as HdM students interested in exchange toured the stands where exchange students presented their home universities. Bioproduct Engineering students Fanny Mäkitalo, Kristiina Rantakömi and Sara Räikkönen who represented TAMK with distinction, ran a wheel of fortune at the stand, where visitors could answer questions about TAMK and Finland. Each wheel was rewarded with a TAMK-themed product or a Moomin candy bag. During the day, I also presented TAMK as an exchange organisation in a 20-minute information session. There were dozen people in the audience. I was particularly pleased that the HdM student responsible for the technology of the space told before my presentation that he had visited Tampere last summer and shared his own experiences with the audience.”

Thank you HdM for the excellent event! Many thanks to all participants for the fruitful discussions!

 

Text: Toni Pippola, Harri Karvinen and Marika Kyllönen

Pictures: Toni Pippola and Marika Kyllönen

 

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