The TU Munich stands for cosmopolitanism and international scientific exchange. Through programs such as Erasmus+, TUMexchange and ATHENS, as well as additional scholarships, the TUM Global & Alumni Office offers students a variety of opportunities to study abroad. Through the Erasmus+ program, TUM enables about 1,000 students per year to study abroad in 32 European countries.
A large number of students from the Department of Sport and Health Sciences also dare to go abroad to study, learn a new language and culture, make new friends and gain experience.
In cooperation with the Department's "International Affairs" department headed by Prof. Karsten Köhler and Prof. Jürgen Beckmann, as well as Gabriele Fried, the International Affairs Delegate, a new series is being launched in which TUM students from the Department who are studying abroad will be introduced by means of a profile and a self-made video.
We start with Dorotea Duni, student of Health Sciences at the Department SG, who is currently studying at the TUM partner university INEF in Madrid/Spain.
Profile
Name: Dorotea Duni
Age: 21 years
Place of residence in Germany: Munich
Course of studies at TUM: Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences
Current semester: 5th semester
At which university abroad are you currently studying? INEF Madrid (Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte)
Is this university a partner university of TUM? Yes
When did you start your study abroad program? September 1, 2020.
How long will your study abroad program last? Until January 31, 2021
What degree program are you studying abroad? Health and Sport Sciences
Why did you decide to study abroad? I met a lot of good friends in Munich who did an Erasmus semester. They all highly recommended an Erasmus semester to me.
Why did you choose this university abroad? INEF Madrid is the best university to study sports science in Spain. Moreover, the subjects that interest me the most are offered here.
Did you learn anything during your stay (e.g. food, tradition, skills) that you will take home with you? I learned how to prepare sangria and paella and definitely improved my Spanish language skills as well as my dancing skills. I also learned how to deal with stressful situations of living together (roommates, neighbors). Aside from the technical immersion, the weekly deadlines at the university were also new to me, so I had to develop a good time management for myself and find a balance between fun and learning. All of these things I will definitely take home with me.
Were there any particular challenges you had to overcome during the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of studying abroad? Group work was always a challenge because, first, it was much more frequent than in my previous semesters at TUM, and second, it is much more difficult to coordinate with other students online. Contacts with local students are also limited with online lectures. Also, due to the speed of speaking or due to dialects and colloquialisms, I have problems understanding the lecture completely from time to time. I also find it easier to ask questions in face-to-face classes than in online classes. There is also the mask requirement that applies everywhere in Spain, which can sometimes be uncomfortable during training. We all know the hygiene and distance rules when fighting COVID-19, but especially when studying abroad it is harder to reduce contact, because you want to have the full Erasmus experience with parties and excursions and get to know people. At the same time, however, you want to behave responsibly in terms of your own health and the health of others. The travel restrictions within Spain or the quarantine requirement abroad made it difficult to spend Christmas with family or have visitors from home.
To the subpage "Internationalization" of the Department of Sport and Health Sciences
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Karsten Köhler
Assistant Professorship for Exercise, Nutrition and Health
Georg-Brauchle-Ring 60/62
80992 München
phone: 089 289 24488
e-mail: karsten.koehler(at)tum.de
Prof. Dr. Jürgen Beckmann
Chair of Sports Psychology
Georg-Brauchle-Ring 60/62
80992 München
phone: 089 289 24541
e-mail: Juergen.Beckmann(at)tum.de
Gabriele Fried
International Affairs Delegate
Georg-Brauchle-Ring 60/62
80992 München
phone: 089 289 24625
e-mail: gabi.fried(at)tum.de
Text/Profile: Romy Schwaiger
Video: Dorotea Duni