Academic Program

Instructors: Dr. Germana Favognano-Bihr, Jan Battke
Language of instruction: English
Contact hours: 40 (plus field trips)

Course Description and Syllabi

This program deals with the political and societal dynamics of European Integration and with the EU as a unique multi-level political system. The past years have seen the EU facing a lot of criticism from various sides and a plethora of challenges threaten the community - internally and externally - and what held its societies together for a long time. Hence, courses cover the current challenges Europe and the EU face today: Brexit and the rise of nationalism; political fragmentation and radicalization; migration, religion and questions of identity; conspiracy theories and misinformation; and war.

Course 1: “The Struggle for Human Rights in Europe: Common Goals and Current Challenges”
Course 2: “The EU in Constant Crisis? A Story of Identities and Rights"

Instructors: Dr. Oleg Morozov, Lana Balorda
Language of instruction: English
Contact hours: 40 (plus field trips)

Course Description and Syllabi

This program delves into the political processes entailed in remembering and forgetting, introduces students to the commemorative landscape of the EU and explores possible solutions to the challenges facing European collective memory or what could be called Europe's culture of remembrance. Sessions will deal with what makes us remember some things while other facets of our lives and historical events are supressed or hard to recollect. How does what we remember (and what we - choose to - forget) structure the reality that we live in - symbolically, physically, and politically? How is the past used (or abused) to serve the present needs of individuals and collectives in Europe today, where different concepts of identity oftentimes clash with the reality of cosmopolitan communities that are both ethnically and culturally diverse.

Course 1: “Culture of Remembrance in the EU: Representing the Traumatic Past”
Course 2: “Europe as a Memoryland: Selective Memory and Place-Making Practices” 

The Summer School August includes two parallel German language courses on proficiency levels A0 (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.

German courses cannot be offered for participants with a higher German language level (B1-C1). For those participants 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 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.