ISOIS ▸ Final reports

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Host institution:
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Program:
Faculty:
Ac. year:
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Study level:
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INNOVENT e.V.

Germany 2021/2022 Freemovers

Personal data
Mobility type:
study

Faculty at MU:
Faculty of Science

Field of study:
Plasma Physics

Level of study during period of placement:
Doctoral

Language used:
English

Summer/winter school?:
no

Period of studies:
spring 2022

Period of placement (from-to):
2022-06-15 - 2022-08-31

Number of months:
2.50

Activities before my departure abroad
Where can information be found about courses taught at the foreign school?:
I didn't take any courses because my internship was practical. That's why I didn't inform myself about the courses.

Which documents were needed for acceptance at the foreign university?:
I didn't go through any administrative process like in universities because my internship was in a company. Therefore, I didn't need any acceptance documents. I just applied with a training agreement.

How far ahead did you have to organise your acceptance?:
18 months, but this was due to a delayed start due to COVID19. I think 3 months would have been enough in my case.

Did you need a visa?:
no

Documents and materials needed for a visa:

Length of wait for visa:

Fee for the visa:

Studies
Did you have a Learning Agreement signed before your departure?:
yes

If not, why not?:

Before your departure did you know how your courses would be recognised by your home faculty?:
I didn't take any courses because my internship was practical. That's why I didn't inform my home faculty about the courses.

During your stay did you change your Learning Agreement?:
No. Specifically, it was a Training Agreement for my case.

When and how did course registration take place? Are there any restrictions? Possibilities of making changes?:
No, but I didn't take any courses because my internship was practical.

Did you take any examinations at the foreign school?:
No.

Does the school use the ECTS system?:
no

If not then explain how the credits there were recalculated into ECTS:
It was practical stay.

Describe the teaching methods (theory, practical and projects) and assessment of students:
The experiments were carried out in different laboratories. The results were continuously presented at monthly meetings of the department where my internship took place.

Quality of teaching in comparison with home school:
I met with a different approach because it was a company and it is not relevant for comparison. The results achieved are fruitful, but the scientific approach is missing.

How did you receive study materials?:
During my internship I only studied the manuals for the equipment. It was purely practical.

Can you recommend an interesting course/subject/teacher?:
No, because I didn't take any courses during my internship.

How well is the school library equipped?:
There was no library at the company.

Availability of computers, internet access, level of software needed, requirements on notebook:
The hosting company provided me with an older computer (with an older operating system) for internet access. For security reasons, I was not allowed to connect my notebook to the company network.

Options from printing and copying:
A printer was available near where I was sitting.

Does the foreign school/student organisation arrange special events for exchange students?:
no

If yes then what?:

How would you assess your integration with the local students (evaluation like in school from 1 to 5 with 1 as highest):
1

or describe in your own words:
We worked together in the same labs, so they helped me whenever I needed it.

Practical questions on your placement
Where did you live?:
Internationaler Bund IB Freier Träger der Jugend-, Sozial- u. Bildung Tischlerei, Am Herrenberge 3, 07745 Jena
It is a dormitory for high school students. During my stay there, there were also Ukrainian refugees living there.

Cost of accommodation - monthly:
350 EUR

Additional comments to the price of accommodation (as to what the price includes):
One of the cheapest options in Jena. The quality reflects the price.

Describe the equipment. Tips for future students – what should they bring with them?:
Bed linen, induction plate, kettle, cleaning products and bicycle.

How and how far ahead should accommodation be organised?:
Accommodation had to be arranged in their native language, so my colleagues from the host company helped me arrange it.

What are the catering options?:
Breakfast is available at the IB Hotel Jugendwohenheim (7 eur), but starts from 6:00. I organized the other meals myself.

What are the rough costs of groceries (compare with Czech prices):
similar

Transport to location of placement:
bicycle (20 mins)

Rough prices for transportation:
Bike service costs: 4 tires ( defects) ~ 100 euros, pedals for 18 euros, lubricants ~ 12 euros, tools and small parts ~ 20 euro. For tourism purposes I used the discounted Deutche Bahn summer pass 9 euros/month. It was together around 170 eur.

Tips for purchasing cheap tickets and other recommendations:
Deutche Bahn: db.de (They always have some discounts.)

What are the local transport options (public transport, cycling, on foot, rough prices):
Cycling is very popular and preferred in Jena. Public transport takes more time. I used a 9 euro ticket for the whole month for both public transport and local trains.

What kind of formalities have to be arranged before arrival, for example residence permit?:
I have provided the company with my personal data to prepare the contract as an employee. The IB Jugendwohenheim accommodation office also needed my personal data for their contract.

What health insurance did you use? (rough price, advantages, disadvantages, is it necessary to arrange insurance at the university other than your home (Czech) insurance?):
I didn't need any additional health insurance because the company insures its employees. Anyway, we hadn't discussed this clearly before my stay and I also took out commercial travel insurance, which costs CZK 3 739.

Did you have any experience with medical treatment abroad?:
No.

Did you work during your studies?:
Yes, I am an employee of Masaryk University in parallel with my studies.

What are the conditions for working for MU students?:
Perfect, I was well prepared for this job as an MU student.

Tips for free-time activities:
Concerts, hiking and swimming in the river Salle.

Financial support and expenses
Total grant from Centre for International Cooperation:
20000 CZK

Monthly grant in CZK:
8000 CZK

Number of supported months:
2.5

Total number of months:
2.5

What other sources did you make use of to finance your placement?:
A6 - Ph.D. Student Mobility Scholarship Programme of MUNI SCI

If you received another grant, state which and how much in CZK:
59700

 
Total fees associated with enrolment at the university:
0 EUR

a/ amount of enrolment fee:
0 EUR

b/ amount of tuition fees:
0 EUR

c/ amount of other fees (which):
0 EUR

 
What was your average monthly expenditure?:
1000 EUR

a/ of which for accommodation:
350 EUR

b/ of which for catering:
600 EUR

c/ travel and recreation:
50 EUR

Any comments to the average monthly expenditure:

Recognition of foreign studies at the home faculty
How many credits did you gain during your studies (in the system of the foreign school)?:
0

How many ECTS credits were recognised at MU?:
12

Did you know in advance which of your courses would be recognised by your home faculty?:
I have not attended any course.

What problems did you have with recognition?:
No problems.

Overall assessment
Assessment of personal benefit (1 = excellent):
1

Assessment of academic benefit (1 = excellent):
3

Evaluate the information and support provided by the foreign school (1 = excellent):
2

Did you encounter any serious problems during your stay:
No serious problems.

What would you recommend to take with you:
Specific equipment not available at the host site. I recommend discussing as much detail as possible prior to your stay.

What most surprised you at the partner university in a positive way:
Fruitful collaboration and communication.

What most surprised you at the partner university in a negative way:
Lack of interest for my research.

Further comments:
Students of Masaryk University are welcome at Innovent e.V. Technology Development. We are well prepared to enter the commercial research sphere in Western countries.