Newsletter from the Welcome Centre
Dear international academics,
Although things are rather quiet at the university right now, we have once again put together a nice collection of news, invitations, reports and other recommendations for you. We hope you enjoy reading the newsletter and very much look forward to seeing you soon!
Your Welcome Centre Team
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Goodbye Tatiana and Ana-Belén
It is with a heavy heart that we have to inform you that our dear colleagues Tatiana Gasques and Ana-Belén Hünting, who both worked as student assistants, are leaving the Welcome Centre.
We are immensely grateful to both of them for their commitment to the Welcome Centre and the wonderful time we spent together. We wish them all the best for the future!
How to Get an Official German Language Certificate - Goethe, TestDaF, TELC
We would like to inform you about the possibilities of obtaining an official German language certificate for your residence permit etc.
Officially suitable certificates are the Goethe-Zertifikat, the TestDaF and the telc.
Goethe Certificate:
- Certificates can be obtained for all levels A1 to C2
- You can take the test at any Goethe Institute worldwide, the nearest location to Passau is in Munich
- Costs are between €135 and €355 depending on level
- Online learning materials are available
- Competences tested are reading, listening, writing and speaking
- More information about the Goethe Certificates on the Goethe Institute websites
TestDaF:
- Results in three levels corresponding to level B2 to C1
- Can be taken at the University of Passau
- Costs €210
- The competences reading, listening, writing and speaking are tested
- Next date Tuesday, 12 September 2023
- For more information click here
Telc:
- Certificates can be obtained for all levels A1 to C2
- Costs between €105€ and €220, depending on the level (slightly cheaper if you take the preparation course at the partner school in advance)
- Exam venue e.g. at Sprachschule Aktiv in Munich (exams take place one Saturday every month) or at VHS Passau (see their website for exam dates)
- Telc preparation course also offered the language school by Sprachschule Aktiv in Passau
- Competences tested are reading, listening, writing and speaking
- More information about the telc from the Sprachschule Aktiv website
We hope this overview helps you to find the certificate that's right for you. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Welcome Centre team.
Excursion with the Ilztalbahn - Review
On the morning of Saturday 17 June, our group of 40 set off from Passau railway station on the Ilztalbahn to Waldkirchen.
The journey along the tree-lined Ilz river and through picturesque landscapes took one hour. In Waldkirchen, in fine weather and glorious sunshine, we set off on a short hike to the Saussbachklamm. Halfway along the route, we took a break at the Halleralm. Over smoked fish, bratwurst and cheese sandwiches and a cool drink, we enjoyed good conversations. Feeling refreshed, we continued our walk to the gorge along small streams and wild vegetation. Back in the centre of the small town of Waldkirchen, there was still enough time for a coffee, an ice cream or just to take a look around before heading back to Passau in the afternoon.
To put it briefly: we had a great day, with the best weather, wonderful surroundings and many warm encounters.
Uni Passau meets Uni Regensburg - Review
On two Saturdays in July, international researchers from the universities of Passau and Regensburg had the opportunity to get to know each other, as well as the respective other city and university. In addition to fascinating tours of the towns and campuses, which gave us insights in various departments and research projects, the main focus was on lively exchange. It was hard to say goodbye, but there was already discussion of potential joint projects in the future. We also captured the impressions in both cities in a reel, which you can find on our Instagram channel.
Recommendations from the Welcome Centre
Calls for Applications: Research-in-Residence Fellowships and Academic Event Funding at the University of Passau in 2024 and 2025
The Passau International Centre for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies (PICAIS) has issued a worldwide call for applications from internationally established academics and junior postdoctoral researchers for Research-in-Residence Fellowships and Academic Event Funding at the University of Passau in Lower Bavaria, Germany.
Research-in-Residence Fellowship
- Funding of a visiting position for junior or senior researchers at the University of Passau
- Funding includes cost of accommodation and living expenses, travel costs/mobility allowance and a research cost contribution
- Duration: 2 to 6 months
- Eligibility: researchers/academics with a doctorate
- Applications must be endorsed by a member of the University of Passau, who will act as their host
Academic Event Funding
- Funding of academic events to be held in Passau
- Objective is to promote international networking and cooperation between researchers at different career stages; exchange of ideas on innovative research topics
- Eligibility: researchers/academics with a doctorate
- Applications must include a member of the University of Passau who acts as the main event organiser; externals act as co-organisers
The next application deadlines for the above mentioned PICAIS funding programmes are:
Tuesday, 17 October 2023 and Wednesday, 15 May 2024
Please refer to the PICAIS website for detailed information regarding the requirements of the application, eligibility criteria, selection procedure, and application forms. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the PICAIS office (picais-office@uni-passau.de) at any time.
Seeing Through the Eyes of a Child - Exhibition by Hafsa Idrees
From 3 August to 27 September 2023, the exhibition "From the eyes of a child" can be seen in the Central Library of the University of Passau. Pakistani artist Hafsa Idrees shows colourful paintings of trivial motifs such as flowers or animals that can evoke emotion, joy and fascination, especially in children. Admission is free.
Says the artist: "When we are children, we rarely think about the future. This innocence leaves us free to enjoy ourselves as few adults can." Hafsa was born in Pakistan in 1992. She studied anthropology at Punjab University in Islamabad and completed a master's degree in Development Studies at the University of Passau. Besides her academic career, art plays an important role in her life. "As a woman in South Asia with a rigid family background, I could rarely feel like a child", she says. Since society exerts a lot of pressure and sets such high expectations in this part of the world, women simply have to grow up too fast. "With my art, I try to live a dream and see the world through the eyes of the child that is still alive in me. As they say, it's never too late to have a happy childhood."
Hafsa Idrees works exclusively with oil paints, mainly using her fingers. "Painting with my fingertips and having a direct connection to my work is very important and cathartic for me", she explains. She describes her current style as modern-impressionist and semi-abstract, with some post-impressionist and expressionist influences.
The exhibition is on display from 3 August to 27 September 2023 in the foyer of the central library of the University of Passau (Innstrasse 29). Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 8 a.m. to 12 midnight, Saturday and Sunday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
With the Ilztalbahn to the Landesgartenschau in Freyung
This year, Freyung hosts the Bayerische Landesgartenschau, a regularly occurring exhibition on horticulture. From 25 May to 3 October, hundreds of thousands of visitors are expected at the garden show grounds on the Geyersberg. To get there without stress and traffic jams, you can take the Ilztalbahn. It runs at weekends and public holidays from Passau railway station via Waldkirchen to Freyung.
The Ilztalbahn and the Landesgartenschau have teamed up to offer a combination ticket : a return journey on the Ilztalbahn including a day ticket for the Landesgartenschau costs €29.00 for adults. Children and youngsters aged 17 or below travel free of charge when accompanied by an adult travelling on a combination ticket.
The return journey on the Ilztalbahn can be made on two consecutive days and used for a two-day stay. The visit to the Landesgartenschau is limited to one day.
Combination tickets are available for purchase:
in the carriage of the Ilztalbahn
in the online ticket shop
at the box offices of the Landesgartenschau Freyung
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Research in Bavaria – blog entries
Together with various Bavarian universities, the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts has developed the web portal www.research-in-bavaria.de.
The aim of this portal is to inform international doctoral and postdoctoral researches about research opportunities at Bavarian universities. But work is only one part of the equation.
It is just as important to show international researchers what kind of life awaits them in Bavaria. The blog “My new life in Bavaria”, features small anecdotes written by international researchers and hope to prepare their peers for life in Bavaria as soon-to-be locals.
Would you like to share your experiences living and working in Bavaria with other young researchers?
What we are looking for: young international researchers based at our universities here in Bavaria, interested in contributing small texts and photos to the blog.
Topics: your hobbies, discoveries, favourite places in the town, sports, traditions and festivities, excursions, afternoons spent at the playground with your kids, in short: anything you enjoy doing in your town or region can be of interest.
Examples: www.research-in-bavaria.de/blog
As you see, texts are rather short (no more than 200 words), and a selection of good photos and a pinch of humour can make a nice contribution! Thank you very much in advance!
Recipe collection
Our International Dinner showed again that you are simply the best cooks! Therefore, we would like to ask you to share your cooking skills with us and send your recipes to researchmobility@uni-passau.de so that we can collect and publish them. Thank you very much!
Informal International Meetings
Would you like to meet other international researchers more frequently? Perhaps you already have plans for leisure/research/networking activities to which you would like to invite other researchers? We'd be happy to share your invitations.
Please send us your ideas and plans at the latest on the Friday of the week before the event, and we will share your information the following Monday.
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