We are happy to invite students and staff from selected international partners within the Comenius Association to join us for our “International Comenius Week”:

We are living in a world that is shaped by globalization and transformation. This affects education as well as culture. We have a huge exchange of ideas, concepts, and approaches through international collaboration. At the same time, education is still very much based upon local and national traditions. During the week, we will have a look at how culture and education have an influence on each other, and how multiple perspectives on education can make a difference in today’s rapidly changing world.

Schwäbisch Gmünd is a cosy medieval town situated in Southern Germany, 50 km away from Stuttgart. At the University of Education Schwäbisch Gmünd about 3000 students are preparing their degrees as preschool, primary and lower secondary school teachers or for health education and nursing.

Activities during the International Comenius Week 2023:

• different workshops and seminars on cultural identity and diversity
• a workshop on the German educational system and educational systems of other countries
• visits to schools, preschools or other educational institutions
• an intercultural and interactive discovery of Schwäbisch Gmünd
• a basic German lesson
• a field trip to Stuttgart with cultural activities
• social activities with German and international students from all over the world and an international dinner event.

At the same time our International Staff Week will take place, so there will be lecturers from all over the world.
 

Practical information

Costs for the students:

• Travel expenses to Schwäbisch Gmünd (Flight to Stuttgart + 25 € return ticket Stuttgart – Schwäbisch Gmünd)
• Lunch (university restaurant – max. 5 Euro per meal)
• 1-2 dinners
• Public transport to the university, to and from the schools and to the meeting points (if necessary)
• We try everything to arrange accommodation for free. In case there are not enough options, students might be charged 65 € for “Bed&Breakfast” for the week to be payed to the International Office in cash at the beginning of the International Week.

Accommodation:
It is part of the design of the week to mix and mingle with the locals - all participants will therefore stay with local students (no hostel or hotel!).

Covered by the University of Education Schwäbisch Gmünd:
Guided tours, course material, cooking evening, an international farewell dinner in a restaurant, excursion to Stuttgart (including transportation and entrance fees).

Hosting students and their families will …
… offer their guest: Bed & Breakfast from Monday evening to Saturday morning;

… pick up the guests at Schwäbisch Gmünd train station on Monday.

… take them to the university, the meeting points of the week and to schools by public transport or by car.

Arrival and departure:
The closest international airport is Stuttgart. From there visitors can easily get to Schwäbisch Gmünd by local train via Stuttgart main station. There are also good train and bus connections to Stuttgart. Students will meet their hosts at Schwäbisch Gmünd railway station.

The programme starts on Tuesday, 2^nd of May, at 10:00 in the morning, so visitors are expected to arrive on Monday, 1^st of May (although this is a holiday in most countries). Departure: The official programme will end on Friday, 5^th of May at lunch time. Departure will therefore be on Friday, 5^th of May in the afternoon/evening, or May 6. The hosting students/families will provide accommodation until Saturday, May 6 after breakfast.

Language of the week:
English (at least B1 required)

ECTS:
2 (3, if students will hand in a paper connected with the project after the week)

Application Deadline:
Nomination deadline:
November 20, 2023  (students have to be nominated by the International Office of their home institution)

Registration deadline by nominated students: December 16, 2023

Further information:
Dr. Monika Becker,
International Office
E-mail: monika.becker(at)ph-gmuend.de

Important Notice

The past two years shown us how important personal meetings are. We are deeply convinced that nothing can replace physical mobility and personal intercultural encounters. Even in these special times we want to give students the opportunity to create personal connections and to have life-shaping intercultural experiences. Therefore, we are planning the International Comenius Week 2023 face to face, according to the Covid19-rules in place, and we will adapt the programme if necessary to provide a beneficial and safe stay of all your students. This might imply changes within the programme.

In case the week can not take place physically, we will go online: As a virtual compact programme at the beginning of May, followed by regular meetings in June and July and with project work in small international groups. Students can get 3 ECTS for their participation in this “plan B”.

Students are kindly asked to book travel arrangements which can be cancelled without or with only little additional costs.

We are very much looking forward to welcoming you to Schwäbisch Gmünd!