Digital Internationalisation at the Department of Natural Sciences

The Digital Internationalization of Faculties (DIF) project covers the topics of virtual mobility and digital teaching and learning, and is thus committed to equal opportunities, climate protection and internationality in teaching by offering flexible opportunities for digital educational participation. At the latest due to the current pandemic situation, digital solutions have also proven their worth at universities of applied sciences and it is no longer possible to imagine our daily work without them.

With appropriate support, teaching offers can be further developed in order to establish digital, English-language events in the long term as well. In the bilingual courses in natural science forensics (BSc), analytical chemistry and quality assurance (MSc) and materials science and sustainability methods (MSc), as well as the courses held completely in English which are applied biology (BSc) and biomedical sciences (MSc), many teaching materials already exist in English; opening up the courses to international exchange students should be discussed. Supplementary subjects without a practical focus offer particular potential for opening up to partner universities, but the possibilities and advantages of digitizing practical teaching formats can also be evaluated and tested in consultation.

Support offerings are selected in consultation with the teaching staff and adapted to the respective needs of the module. In order to ensure support in the delivery of teaching services in English and digital form, the following tools can be used:

• Preparation and follow-up of digital English-language courses
• Advising and supporting instructors in the use of digital tools (for synchronous and asynchronous delivery of content)
• Preparation of presentations in english
• Preparation of digital inputs and surveys (e.g., Mentimeter, Articulate Rise)
• Supervision of LEA courses
• Advising students on the use of digital tools.

Finally, the area of coordination and network building also falls within the range of tasks of DIF in the Department of Natural Sciences. On the one hand, this relates to network building with partners at international universities for collaborative teaching offers with partner universities. On the other hand, the aim is to establish digital courses at the H-BRS, which will be opened to students at international partner universities. In turn, such offerings should also be made available to H-BRS students at international partner universities. The network formation also refers to the university-internal exchange with the colleagues in the department, as well as the project staff in the other departments. One wish for the DIF network is to create a catalogue of various online tools, ideally with examples of use or best practice, which can be drawn upon when advising teachers.

The project Digital International General Studies (DISG), offers lectures in different disciplines as well as interdisciplinary programmes at Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg and our partner universities.

Questions and comments related to DIF can be submitted to the DIF Coordinator by lecturers, professors, and staff. Students are also invited to submit their inquiries to the DIF Coordinator.