The PROFI/HN advisory service is intended to supplement the existing advisory structures at the university. Advice is offered before starting your studies and during your studies.

Advice for prospective students:

Decision-making and orientation aids

Those seeking advice need support in developing prospects, feasible plans and deciding for or against studies. This includes their educational and professional biography as well as any special interests that may require a change of subject. Alternative educational paths and direct entry routes into the world of work can be discussed. It therefore makes sense not to regard Student Advice and Career Advice as separate areas of advice. Individual counseling usually also addresses the personal and financial framework conditions for studies.

There is also close cooperation with the DAAD-funded projects NRWege ins Studium and Welcome. For example, they can provide information about German courses that prepare students for the C1 examination, help with applications for a place at university and advise on the subject of financing studies.

Support with the internal university recognition procedure

If immigrant academics decide to pursue studies, they need support with the internal university recognition procedure, as this requires special knowledge. Cooperation with the Examinations Boards of the respective faculties should facilitate the recognition process.

Advice during the (shortened) studies:

Target group: Students FB01 Chemistry and FB03 Electrical Engineering/Computer Science.

The study-related adviceis intended to support a successful course of study. This is because the first period is associated with major challenges: the language, the organization of studies, the cultural differences in the teaching/learning culture, the lack of contact with other students. Practical assistance is provided and students are also encouraged to make use of the other support services offered by the university.

The advice is closely linked to the project modules "student mentoring" and "peer-to-peer self-help". The exchange of experiences helps to develop and implement coping strategies for linguistic, technical, organizational or social problems.

The language challenges in studies and at work are great if German is not the native language. Improving language skills is therefore one of the project goals. The focus is on oral expression - a skill that is often neglected in German courses and is of great importance both in studies and for job interviews, the world of work and social integration.

The PROFI courses are designed to complement other university language courses in the best possible way.

Are you studying at Faculty 03 or Faculty 01?

Are you interested in student mentoring, exchange and networking? Then get in contact with us!

• Student assistants can support you as mentors.
• In a Moodle course, we offer you a lot of additional and useful information for organizing your studies.
• In a digital "Coming together" every two weeks, you can exchange ideas with others and receive information from the PROFI team.

PROFI/HN is a project not only for, but together with refugee academics. You are part of the project team as academic staff and student mentors.

We also cooperate with migrant associations that have similar objectives to the PROFI/HN project.

The close exchange with the target group of our offers helps us to make the "right" offers and to constantly improve them.

The crucial question for most people is: How do I find a job in my field?

Career entry training" focuses on acquiring application skills and knowledge of the job market. PROFI/HN helps with the preparation of convincing application documents and the acquisition of research skills. In contrast to standardized application training, the workshops are designed to be language-sensitive and tailored to the participants' specific situation (academic background, lack of professional experience in Germany, employers' reservations towards foreign applicants) and industry-specific features are taken into account. They receive support for the initiation of an internship.

For people from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, visits to industry-specific trade fairs and company visits in small groups are expected to be organized in 2021.