Exploring the scientific world – our students went abroad!
Now that this year’s cohort is about to board cars, trains and planes to start their great adventure, it is time to recap the last cohort’s experience abroad and give our 6th cohort something to look forward to on their own little adventure!
We asked the students of the 5th cohort to fill in an evaluation form with multiple choice and open questions, which 14 students completed, and we will now try to summarise their feedback in this article.
Firstly, the students were asked to rate their experience of the placement abroad on a scale from “great” to “terrible”, the majority of students said that they had a great experience, and even more pleasingly, none of them had an unpleasant or terrible experience. Most of the students liked their laboratory environment and their work there, saying that they learned a lot of new methods and how different laboratories work and how scientific culture is applied in other countries. Most also enjoyed meeting new people and going on trips to explore their host country. Depending on where they went, some students complained about the higher cost of living abroad, while others commented positively on the impact of the financial support provided by the programme.
Further, our studendts were asked to evaluated on the impact of this internship abroad on their career goals and their future work as a scientist. Most students said that their internship abroad was “very impactful” (64 %) or “moderately impactful” (36 %) in shaping short-term and long-term academic career goals. The skills they acquired were equally divided between hard skills (practical, lab-related skills) and soft skills, such as interpersonal skills and self-reliance. The techniques and capabilities they acquired during their stay abroad are useful foundations for their future careers in science and have helped them to gain a first insight into full-time scientific practice.
Cultural differences and language barriers have not really been a problem for our students. As English is often the working language in the laboratories, the Master’s programme taught in English is the perfect preparation for working abroad. Most students wrote that they felt welcome in their host country. Tips for settling in include asking lots of questions and taking a language course in the host country to help with day-to-day interactions. Good interpersonal skills were overwhelmingly cited as the most important quality for success in an international laboratory environment.
As things might not always go smoothly, we asked students to describe the challenges they faced and how they overcame them. One student described how difficult it was to get a work permit for the US, but said that asking people in their host lab for help solved many problems. Another student had to find a new place to live at short notice. Again, it was useful to ask the local lab members as they had more contacts and knew how things worked in the country. Overall, the take-home message is not to be afraid to ask for help and to find people in similar situations to support each other.
In addition to the challenges, the students see great advantages in doing the placement abroad rather than in Germany. They report that “it is absolutely worth it to get to know other countries, maybe learn a new language, travel around in a foreign country”. Students say that “going to another country strengthens your independence” and “challenges your organisational skills” as well as developing intercultural skills. In terms of science, it was mentioned several times that it was good to compare similar or different experimental structures in the lab abroad and to have an exchange of knowledge that can be very enlightening for the future career.
Of course, doing a placement abroad requires a lot of organisation, so let’s take a look at the application process and the preparation time. The amount of effort students had to put into finding their host lab varied greatly: Some chose labs directly from the list of contacts abroad provided by the iImmune faculty, others researched and contacted labs on their own or asked other professors in Erlangen for connections. The criteria for choosing a lab ranged from the topic, the lab’s reputation and the methods they use to language and location.
After finding a host lab, students emphasise that it is important to start looking for accommodation early. Visas and scholarships can require a lot of documentation and take some time, so it is important to be patient. Staying in contact with the supervisor of the host lab can help with any problems that may arise, as mentioned above. Reading up on the research topics beforehand will help to ensure a smooth start in the lab.
As for advice on what to do in the host country, most students have only one thing to say: Enjoy the experience, make new friends and don’t forget to travel! With that, we wish the 6th cohort an enjoyable stay abroad. May you learn a lot, but above all: have fun!
PS: Check out our gallery below to get an impression of our students adventures abroad!
(Authors: Laura Petrich, Nadja Herrmann, Vivienne Riekher)
