Auditor program for refugees: Registration possible on March 16 - 17
A bridge to studies
Approximately 250 auditors are currently attending the program for refugees. Two thirds of them are from Syria, one sixth from Afghanistan, with the remainder coming from twelve other countries. For many of them the program is more than just a short-term option: Approximately 150 participants were also registered to participate in the previous semester, many of them even longer than that. The first eight auditors have been able to immatriculate in a conventional course of study at TUM for the current semester, and several others have begun their studies at other universities.
TUM launched the free program in the fall of 2015 for people who had interrupted their studies, or were not able to begin their studies, because they had to flee their home countries. Participants can prepare for a university curriculum in conventional courses or receive consultation on other possible courses of study. TUM has continuously modified the range offered to reflect experience gained. For example, it turns out that the great majority of the participants are only beginning their studies. Thus the program was designed so that they can improve the level of their German skills in two semesters in order to fulfill the prerequisites for a Bachelor's degree program.
Students help as "Buddies"
TUM helps the auditors gain a perspective on the German educational system and assists them with all the formalities. In doing so TUM invites other educational institutions, artisans' organizations, initiatives and a variety of specialists to the university on a regular basis. TUM students and employees help the refugees with everyday tasks as personal "Buddies".
Further support is received from initiatives both within and outside of TUM. For example, the student team of the IKOM career fair helps participants write applications, while the charitable organization AsylPlus has lent the program 40 laptops. And volunteers have organized a lecture series on immigration, "Insights into Immigration", featuring for example the Afghan author Hassan Ali Djan and the journalist Dunja Hayali and spotlighting the topic of migration.
"A stepping stone to a successful education"
"Many young people who come to us have not been able to put their talents to use since leaving their home countries and have not been able to earn the professional qualifications they desire," says Prof. Gerhard Müller, TUM Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs. "We want to help them as best we can to connect with the German educational system. Those who come from another culture and first have to learn a new language will find it more difficult to immediately start a university curriculum. This is why we're so pleased that our program has already helped so many refugees as a stepping stone to a successful education."
Registration for first-time participants:
Thursday, March 16, 2017, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Friday, March 17, 2017, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Technical University of Munich (TUM)
Immatriculation Hall
Arcisstraße 21
80333 Munich