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Practical Experiences in International Studies in Informatics. Claudia Krull, Georg Paul Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg (OvG) Daniel V. Goulet University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP). Agenda. The Partners Goals Challenges The Dual-Degree Program Results Future Challenges.
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Practical Experiences in International Studies in Informatics Claudia Krull, Georg Paul Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg (OvG) Daniel V. Goulet University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP)
Agenda • The Partners • Goals • Challenges • The Dual-Degree Program • Results • Future Challenges
The Partners • Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg: • 9 Departments with 10,000 Students • Faculty of Computer Science 1500 students • 4 Diploma courses (ending), 3 Master courses, 4 Bachelor courses • University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point: • 8700 students in 100 programs • Department of Mathematics and Computing • Majors and Minor in CIS
Goals Students can obtain degrees from both Universities as part of their normal study activities. • International Understanding • Cultural / Historical Understanding • Academic Understanding • Language Proficiency • Academic Certification
Challenges • Prerequisites • Curriculum • Language difficulties • Financial issues • Will also come up in Europe
Prerequisites • German students need Abitur to study • Any American High-School graduate may study • Convince German officials, that Americans are qualified to study Good grades are necessary for admittance into the program
Curriculum • Diploma (Germany) • 5 years, almost only major • 4 different courses of study (Inf,WIF,CV,CSE) • Practicum required in 7th or 8th semester • Bachelor (USA) • 4 years CIS Major • GDR requirements
Language • Germans study English at school • At least 6 years of experience • Applicants usually pass the TOEFL • All courses at UWSP are in English • No foreign language required in the US • None or very little knowledge in German • Students would need to pass the DSH • Most diploma courses at OvG are in German
Finances • OvG students • Pay no tuition (yet) at home • $7000 per semester at UWSP • Up to 2002 funding from DAAD • Since then support from UWSP • Practicum payment, jobs, reimbursement fund • UWSP • Charges $1500 tuition from their students • Why should Germans study for free?
The Dual-Degree Program • OvG Students • Reach a specified score on the TOEFL Test • Take some few GDR Courses and CIS Courses at UWSP to complete the Bachelor • Can complete their practicum at UWSP
The Dual-Degree Program • UWSP Students • Reach a specified level on the DSH Test • Take a set of Informatics courses to count for their UWSP Bachelor • Can remain for the 9th and 10th semester to complete the diploma
Results to Date • 1992 Practicum in Informatics • 16 German students • 1997 Dual Degree Program • 20 Germans completed bachelors degree • Summer Course • 16 students per year for 3 weeks • No student from UWSP participated in the program, due to the language requirement
Future Challenges • New recommendations for model curricula in the USA • 5 different curricula • Bologna-Declaration made OvG switch from Diploma to Bachelor/Master • 4 Bachelor courses • 5 Masters courses • Starting 2009 a new agreement is necessary
Conclusion • Worldwide comparability in Informatics is necessary • Establishing a cooperation is a long and hard process • Dual-Degree-Program • an example for the Bologna process in Europe today