The Internationale Office Jena offers digital preparation workshops for guest students. Talking with two administrators we get to know about the content of these workshops and what is needed for a good preparation for guest studies in Jena.

 Guests:

Sylvia Canario Acosta works at the International Office, in the department for international stdents. She is responsible for the Erasmus + programmearbeitet im International Büro im Bereich Incoming für das Gaststudium. Ihr Aufgabenbereich ist das Erasmus+ Programm. 
Susi Streit also works at the I. She administers and supports all exchange students from all over the world, except the european union. She herself spent two semesters abroad. That is why she can 
Course and exam administration is the field of Stefanie Müller, who is not in this podcast, but you get to know her in episode 5.

Timestamps:

01:55 I guess that there is a lot to do in preparation for an exchange semester, right? 07:15 What happens at your preparation workshops? 09:50 What are the most important steps to do beforehand? 11:55 Where do students get support? Who can I ask in case anything in still unclear? 13:10 What should be packed in one’s lagguage? 15:10 Which initial problems might appear that can be avoided through good preparation? 17:40 What is the WelcomeBuddy programme? 18:50 What are your advice for students before they come to Jena? 21:07 What do you recommend for the very first time after arrival? 22:50 Whats are the first and most important steps after arriving in Germany? 

Shownotes: 
•    Information on Guest studies at University of Jena: https://www.uni-jena.de/en/1955/guest-studies 
o    FAQ on Guest studies: https://www.uni-jena.de/en/2190/faq-guest-studies 
o    subject specific coordinators: https://www.uni-jena.de/en/2650/contact-and-subject-specific-coordinators
•    WelcomeBuddy programme: https://www.uni-jena.de/en/2260/information-for-international-students  
o    Podcast episode on the WelcomeBuddy programme: https://www.uni-jena.de/en/63217/podcast#Mentoring 
•    Semester dates: https://www.uni-jena.de/en/220/semester-dates 
•    Application portal: https://friedolin2.uni-jena.de/qisserver/pages/cs/sys/portal/hisinoneStartPage.faces
•    Dormitories in Jena: https://www.stw-thueringen.de/en/housing/residential-homes.html  
o    Podcast episode on accomodation: https://www.uni-jena.de/en/63217/podcast#E3housing
•    Information on Financing your studies and working while studying: https://www.uni-jena.de/en/2070/financing-your-studies 
o    Podcast episode on this topic: https://www.uni-jena.de/en/63217/podcast#Financing 
•    Study start and Enrolment: https://www.uni-jena.de/en/1960/start-studying-international-students 
o    Podcast Episode on enrolment: https://www.uni-jena.de/en/63217/podcast#Enrolment 
o    WelcomeDays and WelcomeCafe: https://www.uni-jena.de/en/5395/welcome-days 
•    Course catalogue: https://friedolin.uni-jena.de/qisserver/rds?state=wtree&search=1&category=veranstaltung.browse&navigationPosition=functions%2Clectureindex&breadcrumb=lectureindex&topitem=locallinks&subitem=lectureindex&noDBAction=y&init=y 
•    Unisport Jena: https://www.hochschulsport.uni-jena.de/en 
•    City of Jena: https://startseite.jena.de/en 
•    Social Media 
o    University of Jena: @unijena
o    Unisports Jena: @unisport_jena
o    City of Jena: @jenalichtstadt
o    Group "Toegther in Jena": @together.in.jena
•    International Office contact 

Susi’s tips: 
•    Organize your e-mails and documents in one folder
•    Read e-mails including the attachments
•    Take part in the praparation workshops
•    Get a WelcomeBuddy
•    Learn and practise german language
•    Connect with former exchange students (take care that all infos are up to date!)
•    Network with other exchange students
•    Plan your travel and mind the semester dates
•    Check the validity of your passport
•    Apply for a place in a dormitory
•    Organize your helath insurance in time
•    Be open to get in contact with people

Timestamps: 
01:25 What is this „CampusCouch“? 03:55 Since when does this project exist? 04:25 What exactly are you doing as volunteers of the project? 07:20 How do you prepare? 10:08 Who can come to you and use that offer? 15:20 Does the offer does cost anything? 15:35 How to contact you and get an appointment? How is the whole process? 20:21 Is the offer only in german? 21:40 What are special needs of international students and are you prepared for it? 29:00 How do you personally like your volunteering at the CampusCouch?

Shownotes:
•    CampusCouch https://www.uni-jena.de/campuscouch 
o    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/campuscouch/
o    Contact: campus-couch@uni-jena.de
•    Orientation Days in the beginning of the semester: https://www.uni-jena.de/34738/studieneinfuehrungstage-stet
•    Contactpoints in case of mental health problems (Free of charge):
o    Telephone (and online) Counseling: https://www.telefonseelsorge.de/telefon/#telephone
o    Muslim telephone counseling: https://www.mutes.de/
o    Russian Tелефон Доверия: https://www.diakonie-portal.de/themen/ehrenamt-freiwilligendienste/ehrenamt-und-engagement/telefon-doweria-telefon-doverija/
o    Psychosocial counselling of the Studierendenwerk Thüringen: https://www.stw-thueringen.de/en/counselling/psycho-social-counselling/ 
    Podcastfolge zur PSB : https://www.uni-jena.de/en/63217/podcast#support3
o    Bei akuter Suizidalität: 112
•    Information on the german health care system: https://www.uni-jena.de/en/1965/living-in-jena