1. 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)

2. 2 Agenda The Partners Goals Challenges The Dual-Degree Program Results Future Challenges

3. 3 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

4. 4 Goals Students can obtain degrees from both Universities as part of their normal study activities. 1.International Understanding 2.Cultural / Historical Understanding 3.Academic Understanding 4.Language Proficiency 5.Academic Certification

5. 5 Challenges Prerequisites Curriculum Language difficulties Financial issues Will also come up in Europe

6. 6 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

7. 7 Curriculum Diploma (Germany) –5 years, almost only major –4 different courses of study (Inf,WIF,CV,CSE) –Practicum required in 7 th or 8 th semester Bachelor (USA) –4 years CIS Major –GDR requirements

8. 8 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

9. 9 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?

10. 10 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

11. 11 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

12. 12 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

13. 13 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

14. 14 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

15. 15 Thank You!