University of Applied Sciences, Fulda

Part Two

For a person with such a background, the organisational shortcomings of the program cause irritations and dissatisfaction. A lack of guidance causes difficulties in making out the picture as a whole.
The Canadian student states: ". . . in terms of structure, when I compare them to the classes I’ve had, em— I don’t – I don’t want to say, I think it is different culturally, but my impression is the teachers were more, they had an idea what they wanted to get taught in the classes. They had a concept, they had a plan . . ." The American interviewee also comments: "Beside organisation, teaching is a little different simply because– it can– be well, some of it is really good, but some of it is really random, like we cover many different things like and never really learn about one thing or that the whole class consists of presentations . . ."
This problem can also be caused by the Germans' method of going to the roots first, and then to finding a solution next. "Well, the first day of classes I knew what was going to happen in the class . . . the first day was extremely important to know what is going to happen with this class: When is the exam, what are the assignments, what are the requirements, what are the readings - am I interested in this. I mean, you had a very, very clear idea of what the class would be. And I found that this was lacking here . . . I still don’t know where we’re leading; I don’t know why we are discussing this one day and that another day. It just, it doesn’t come together, I don’t have an overview . . .," says the Canadian student[emphasis added by the writer].
The system of evaluation is foreign, too. In most educational systems, exams are the only way, or the main way, of evaluating the students. The Canadian student comments: ". . . Studienleistung to me was very foreign. It just seemed a bit like, it doesn’t seem to be like a serious method, an academic, I, I find that there is no stan– I just don’t find the standards. . ."
In a competitive system, like the one in Canada and the US, one needs extra support from one's surroundings. Encouragement, therefore, becomes an important element. The American student states: ". . . it is also on the side of the students how much they prepare, but there is not this system we say, ja, it is important if I did, there is no encouragement . . . I don’t want to say that the mark is the best way, because I don’t think it is, but I think somehow you have to have expectations, I think people some times work to expectations . . ."
Another aspect of the studies which the interviewees are unaccustomed to and do not like very much is the system of presentations. ". . . what is the person going to take away from this, the idea, I found most of the Referats, you just, you read out of a piece of paper, so you say you covered the points, and you give a handout. How the information comes across to the student it’s not taken as an issue . . . I would rather listen to the professor who prepares the class than students . . .," The American student feels.
The system of giving Referats only, though not bad in itself, can cause insecurity when students are not sure whether they are on the right path and whether they are learning the right points. "I guess my biggest disappointment and stress is that I feel I’ve done this degree and . . . I can’t say and I feel, for instance, with this internship, I feel insecure that I’m not prepared . . . I feel like I don’t have the substance behind my title and I’m afraid—I will have problems coming into the workforce . . ., " says the Canadian student.
About the city there are two different points of view. The two students differ in their views about the city. The Canadian interviewee is of the opinion that, "it could have been very beneficial to be in a larger city where you have this multi-cultural, I think we’re a multi-cultural group, an island in the middle of Fulda . . . I see us not having any contact in, I think in a city you get that automatically, I mean just having the variety . . ." The American interviewee, on the other hand believes: "Em, it’s great for this project, because then you are not distracted . . . I think the city is ok, it’s a quiet city. It’s not a big city, there is not a lot to do, but there is things to do if you really need to . . ."