Uni-Tübingen

Academic Program

The T-IES Summer School II (on-site) comprises two modules in "Europe & the European Union" and "Language & Culture". The courses and study trips (module 1) of both modules are compulsory for all participants within the Summer School and are covered by the program fee. Applications are only possible for the program as a whole.

The following schedule shows an overview of the four-week program and provides information about the dates and times of the courses, study trips and social activities: Schedule (printable PDF).

Study Trips

Each of the mandatory study trips is linked to one of the academic courses:

  • 1-day study trip to Strasbourg (visit to the European Parliament)
  • 1-day study trip to Stuttgart 

Module 1: Europe & the European Union

Course Description and Syllabi

This program deals with the general dynamics of European Integration and with the EU as a unique political system consisting of very diverse member states with distinct national cultures. The past decades have seen the emergence of a plethora of challenges that could threaten the community’s “we feeling” – hence, what held its societies together. Courses cover current European debates on the possibility of a European identity or even a European “super state” and ask whether the EU is fit enough for the future.

Academic introductory courses (taught in English):

Course A:  The EU, its Politics and its Challenges (Jan Battke)

Course B:  Human Rights in Europe: Current Issues and Challenges (Dr. Germana Favognano-Bihr)

Learning Objectives

By familiarizing themselves with how collective identities are constructed, at the end of the course students will have solid knowledge about the process, potential benefits and pitfalls of identity- formation dynamics and what they can mean for processes of regional integration in Europe – knowledge which they can not only apply to Europe alone, but to other world regions as well.

Module 2: Language & Culture

German Language Courses

The T-IES Summer School II (on-site) 

includes two parallel German language courses on proficiency levels A1 (no German knowledge) and A1-A2 (beginners). Participation in the German language course is compulsory. The courses will be taught by qualified instructors of the Department of German as a Foreign Language and Intercultural Programs. Through an intercultural and communicative approach students will be actively involved in class to encourage language learning. The focus will be on speaking and listening to improve students' language competence in everyday situations.

For participants with a higher German language level (B1-C1), we will offer the possibility of independently carrying out project work (or similar) in German in consultation with the T-IES team. 

Self-assessment

Within the application form you will be asked to evaluate your German language proficiency according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

The European framework of reference distinguishes between six different reference levels of knowledge from the elementary use of language (A1) to the autonomous language ability (C2). On all reference levels “can-do” descriptors indicate what a learner is supposed to be able to do in reading, listening, speaking and writing at each level. 

Intercultural Competence

Intercultural Workshop: An intercultural workshop will give participants an introduction to intercultural communication and the chance to reflect on their study abroad experience.

Buddy Program: To support you during your stay in Tübingen and to promote an intercultural exchange we have set up a Buddy Program in which a student of the University of Tübingen teams up with a T-IES participant. The Buddy Program aims to initiate a cultural exchange between international students and the Tübingen students, to expand one’s own cultural horizon, as well as the strengthening of intercultural skills and competences. The Buddy Program will allow you to get to know German student life first-hand and to make friends.