campus passau Master-Special I Master-Special I Master-Special I Master-Special I Master-Special

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1 Master-Special I Master-Special I Master-Special I Master-Special I Master-Special campus passau the university master magazine

2 2 CAMPUS PASSAU I 2017 I MASTER S DEGREES I IMPRESSUM & EDITORIAL Published by: The President of the University of Passau Innstr. 41, Passau, Germany Phone: Fax: ISSN: Senior editor: Katrina Jordan Communication and Marketing Division Editors: Katrina Jordan, Carmen Missal, Nino Schata Translator: Andrew Rink Assistants: Ulrike Holzapfel, Patricia Mindl, Anja Schuster, Andrew Rink, Johanna Schmidt, Dominik Strobel Photography: Florian Weichselbaumer, Rudi Melcak Contact: University of Passau Communication and Marketing Division Innstr. 41, Passau, Germany Phone: ext. 1439, Fax: ext communication@uni-passau.de Design: Werbeagentur Hauer-Heinrich GmbH Phone: Logo, Corporate Design of the University of Passau: credo concept.communication Printers: Passavia Druckservice, Passau Circulation: Publication frequency: 3 issues per year Any views expressed in articles whose authors are named are the respective authors' and do not represent the views of the University of Passau or the Communication and Marketing Division. Please contact the Communication and Marketing Division of the University of Passau if you wish to use any of the material contained in this magazine for your own publication. You must cite the source of the material and provide a specimen copy. Dear reader, I would like to take this master's edition of Campus Passau Magazine as an opportunity to introduce myself as the new President of the University of Passau, having taken up this exciting post on 1 April The University of Passau is a world-class academic institution that maintains partnerships with higher education institutions across the globe. Our outstanding research, international contacts and the top-notch facilities within easy reach on campus are highly appreciated by our students, particularly those studying at the master's level. This edition of Campus Passau Magazine is all about our multifaceted range of master's programmes, an offering that includes Business Administration, Caritas Science, German Law for foreign graduates, International Cultural and Business Studies, Media and Communication, and Mobile and Embedded Systems, to name only a handful of our programmes. Our close worldwide partnerships also mean that our students have access to exciting double degree programmes with universities abroad. This coming winter semester ( ), for instance, the Faculty of Computer Science and Mathematics will offer a brand-new double master's option with Ecole Supérieure de Communication de Tunis (Sup Com) for students of computer science and computer engineering. The University promotes gender equality with programmes such as mentup+, which aims to enhance our female graduates' career prospects in academia, commerce and industry as well as in social, cultural and public institutions. This mentorship programme is specifically intended for tomorrow's female early career researchers and executives: this includes the women studying our master's programmes. Moreover, the University makes a concrete contribution to economic cooperation and sustainable development, as we are already training future experts in these fields in the English-taught M.A. Development Studies and the German-taught M.A. Governance and Public Policy programmes, the latter being included in the DAAD's Public Policy and Good Governance scholarship programme. We believe that by combining our interdisciplinarity with our excellent research and teaching we will achieve greater visibility, both in Germany and in the international arena, and bring the best lecturers, researchers and students to the University of Passau. Our highly modern campus with excellent facilities is situated in the only Italian-baroque town north of the Alps a place that is rich in culture and traditions yet boasts established international high-tech companies and numerous start-ups, thus creating a uniquely stimulating atmosphere conducive to innovation. I hope you will find this magazine to be an informative read. There is no doubt in my mind that coming to study for a master's degree in Passau is one of the best choices you can make. Yours, Professor Carola Jungwirth President of the University of Passau

3 CAMPUS PASSAU I 2017 I MASTER S DEGREES 3 TEACHING AND LEARNING PROCESSES Upon completing the M.Ed. Teaching and Learning Processes programme you can sit the first state examination for teachers. Students studying for the long-cycle 'Lehramt' degrees can also join the Master of Education (M.Ed.) programme after sitting the first state examination to gain this internationally recognised degree. This dual qualification not only allows you to enter the teaching profession, but also opens the door to a multitude of occupations outside the school sector. Moreover, you receive firstrate education in the academic sub-disciplines of education, qualifying you for high-powered roles in the school sector later on in your career. Finally, the Master of Education degree allows you to pursue doctoral study in education and the didactics subjects. Nathalie Jungbauer "I find it very important to be treated as a person, not a number. The lecturers here are very approachable, and the fact that everybody knows each other by name makes for a great learning atmosphere." BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Christoph Moser "Having already done my Bachelor s degree in Passau, I knew that the quality of tuition is excellent. It just didn t make any sense to go elsewhere." This Master's degree is open to students with a good first degree in Business Administration or a related degree, who wish to expand their business competences, abilities and methodological know-how. When you study for this degree, you will specialise in one of three focus areas: Accounting, Finance and Taxation; International Management and Marketing; or Business Computing/Information Systems. This degree programme gives you great leeway when choosing your modules you can shape your studies to fit a specific occupation or cast a wider net for a more generalist profile. A Master s degree opens doors to many career paths in German and international private-sector companies, in the public sector and, of course, in academia by pursuing a doctorate.

4 4 CAMPUS PASSAU I 2017 I MASTER S DEGREES CARITAS SCIENCE AND VALUES-BASED MANAGEMENT Caritas Science and Values-based Management is concerned with the practice of charity, guidance and leadership following Christian ethical principles. This programme prepares you for executive and specialist roles in the non-profit sector, as well as in private and public-sector organisations. This programme is for you if you re interested in social policies, want to help the socially disadvantaged and make sure that your decisions and actions in a social, pedagogical, pastoral or management role are ethically sound. Studying for this degree will enhance your academic profile, giving it a social-theological dimension not depending on your relgious affiliation or identity as well as helping you to develop your leadership skills. The programme can be studied full-time or on a day-release basis. Robert Hanke "The strong practical orientation, teaching quality and the possibility to study while working are what appeals to me." GERMAN LAW FOR FOREIGN GRADUATES Yifan Shang The LL.M. German Law for foreign graduates is directed at international students with a good first law degree. The programme is taught in German. As a student on this programme, you gain essential knowledge of the principles of German law, but are also given the opportunity to specialise in accordance with your interests. In the Research Methods module you put your methodological and system competences to use by carrying out your own independent research. Many alumni who graduated from this programme work as lawyers in international law firms with partners in Germany. "I like the fact that we attend lectures together with our German fellow students, because I think it is very important to have direct contact with native speakers." great results in university rankings international double degree options ability to choose your own specialisation degree programme unique to Passau strong international orientation

5 CAMPUS PASSAU I 2017 I MASTER S DEGREES 5 DOUBLE MASTER S DEGREE IN GERMAN AND RUSSIAN LAW Alina Rovba "The programme offers us students the possibility to develop in-depth, practical knowledge in German and Russian law." This double degree programme is a research-focused, fully integrated postgraduate programme in German and Russian Law. As a student enrolled in this programme, you will study towards your double Master's degree at two universities the University of Passau and Siberian Federal University (SubFU) in Krasnoyarsk. The programme, which is directed at students who have an undergraduate degree in law or in a subject with a strong legal focus, carries a total workload of 120 ECTS credits. In this programme, you will be acquainted with the principles of the Russian legal system, and will be able, for instance, to put the focus on the economic and tax laws in Germany and Russia. This requires knowledge of the Russian (legal) language, which you will learn as part of the degree programme. As you study for your degree, you will acquire the skills and knowledge needed to work as a jurist in the area of German and Russian law, while simultaneously developing the competencies required for independent scholarly work. DEVELOPMENT STUDIES The M.A. Development Studies enables students to develop the advanced knowledge, analytical skills, and conceptual frameworks required to understand and navigate the complexities of economic and social development. Students enrolled in the programme gain insights into the economic, social, ethical, and cultural contexts and constraints of development. The programme provides outstanding opportunities to put theory into practice through international field research, with a strong focus on integrating quantitative and qualitative methods. The programme addresses the worldwide need for experts in the expanding field of development research as well as for project managers in international development cooperation. This programme is particularly suitable for students with a first degree in social science and mid-career professionals in any development-related field. Qualified students from developing and emerging countries are particularly welcome. Alexandra Mayugba "Something unique to our program, which I especially enjoy, is the fact that my colleagues come from all over the globe." possibility to study while working opportunities for studying abroad fully english-taught programme integrated subjectspecific language programmes accredited programme or accreditation pending

6 6 CAMPUS PASSAU I 2017 I MASTER S DEGREES EUROPEAN STUDIES Marcel Böttcher "European Studies pushes the envelope and leads the way on all levels political, economic and cultural. What could be more exciting?" This cross-disciplinary master's programme, which combines elements from humanities and social science disciplines, offers you the chance to consolidate and expand the knowledge and competencies gained in your undergraduate studies in a social, cultural, business or economic discipline, lending it a (greater) European dimension. In this programme, you will be able to set your own study focus by choosing from a wide variety of subjects, including a number of European linguistic subjects and history, sociology, political science, geography, art history, East Central European studies and philosophy. To round off your profile, you will study in depth one or more of the following areas: foreign languages, media, intercultural communication, empirical research methods in social sciences, business administration, computer science and/or digital humanities. GEOGRAPHY: CULTURE, ENVIRONMENT AND TOURISM Uniquely in Germany, the M.A. Geography programme allows you to combine regional studies and tourism research, as well as specialising in one of seven cultural regions and learning the corresponding foreign language. The degree programme features compulsory courses in business and cultural studies, based on the University s highly successful International Cultural and Business Studies programme. While studying this programme, you will develop the skill set required to tackle complex issues in regional development and tourism through the use of integrative and cross-disciplinary methods. In-depth regional knowledge and extensive intercultural competence round off the course profile of this hands-on programme. Jingjing Song "Practical relevance is an important aspect for me. I m not just learning things by heart, but applying what I have learned." great results in university rankings international double degree options ability to choose your own specialisation degree programme unique to Passau strong international orientation

7 CAMPUS PASSAU I 2017 I MASTER S DEGREES 7 HISTORY The M.A. History programme imparts theory and research methods, enabling you to apply scientific principles to historical topics. As you progress through this programme you learn to analyse complex interrelationships and reconstruct historical developments and events by cross-referencing source material. History courses tend to focus on the major historical periods; at the University of Passau, the programme includes subjects from related academic disciplines. You have the opportunity to take an active role and shape your academic training by selecting two focus modules to suit your personal interests and career plans. Martin Ascher "I have a great deal of freedom in choosing which courses to attend, including those from other academic disciplines." GOVERNANCE AND PUBLIC POLICY This cross-disciplinary programme conveys the knowledge you need to properly analyse political processes in an increasingly borderless world. The Political Science core modules deal with fundamental questions of political theory and the governance approach. After completing these, you have the opportunity to specialise in the areas of Comparative Politics, Global Governance, European Integration, Public Policy or Institutions and Political Change. You will also have the chance to attend lectures from the disciplines of Sociology, History and Public Law. Due to the strong research focus of this programme, special emphasis is placed on a theory-led and methodologically sound approach to your studies. This is one of only eight degree programmes in Germany to have been included in the Public Policy and Good Governance programme of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). The individual courses are taught in either German or English. "I wanted a master s programme that lets me choose my own courses to construct my own specialisation." Nadja Tanke possibility to study while working opportunities for studying abroad fully english-taught programme integrated subjectspecific language programmes accredited programme or accreditation pending

8 8 CAMPUS PASSAU I 2017 I MASTER S DEGREES COMPUTER SCIENCE As a student enrolled in the M.Sc. Computer Science programme, you have access to a wide selection of subjects with a strong international focus. You will become acquainted with the state of the art as you collaborate on research projects. The faculty maintains excellent links with business and industry as well as with computer science departments of universities abroad. One upshot of this is the double master s programme in cooperation with INSA de Lyon, France. Studying for this degree, you can choose from five specialisations: Algorithms and Mathematical Modelling; Programming and Software Systems; Information and Communication Systems; Intelligent Technical Systems and IT Security and Reliability. This programme can be studied entirely in English or German. Sebastian Henneberg "The faculty's excellent CHE rankings for Computer Science attest to the solid and comprehensive computer science education in Passau." INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS Levke Jessen-Thiesen "This programme gives you the chance to think about issues that are not always so comprehensively analysed." 'The world is flat!' While ever-faster economic integration has made the world a smaller place, it has certainly not made it any less complex. Economics is a key to understanding how the world works. The Faculty of Business Administration and Economics offers three focus areas: Globalization, Geography and the Multinational Firm; International Finance; and Development, Governance and Anticorruption. The programme includes business administration, econometrics and cross-disciplinary modules as well as foreign language and transferable skills courses. Our graduates are offered outstanding posts in business and academia: you can look forward to working in an executive capacity in the private sector, in political advisory organisations, public-sector organisations or a government ministry, and of course the Master s degree also opens the door to doctoral study. great results in university rankings international double degree options ability to choose your own specialisation degree programme unique to Passau strong international orientation

9 CAMPUS PASSAU I 2017 I MASTER S DEGREES 9 INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL AND BUSINESS STUDIES Thorsten Kleppich We get to choose our specialisation from 12 different Humanities disciplines. That makes it easy to shape your studies according to your personal interests. This programme uniquely combines business administration, foreign language study and cultural studies. You will study business administration modules, two applied foreign language programmes and specialise in the cultural region of one of your chosen foreign languages. There is a choice of seven cultural regions in Europe, the Americas and Asia. You will learn to work across disciplines, develop strong organisational and communication skills, as well as refining important transferable skills, such as project management, leadership and problemsolving. A number of international double degree options are available, including a recently-established German-taught Master's degree in Intercultural Management at the Turkish- German University in Istanbul. MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION The M.A. Media and Communication combines practical journalism and communication theory, giving you the ideal preparation for your future career, be it in academia or in journalism. Building on your first degree, you will develop advanced knowledge and skills in selected areas of focus as well as the general inter-disciplinary extension modules. You will gain a solid grounding in communication studies, media studies, media computer science and/or media education, equipping you with a wide-ranging set of competences from the field of social and cultural studies. The Centre for Media and Communication, which houses Bavaria s newest crossmedia newsroom, provides our students with unique practical learning opportunities. Florian Stalph "You get a really comprehensive overview of communication studies. The seminars are always topical and relevant and reflect the changes in the mass media." possibility to study while working opportunities for studying abroad fully english-taught programme integrated subjectspecific language programmes accredited programme or accreditation pending

10 10 CAMPUS PASSAU I 2017 I MASTER S DEGREES MOBILE AND EMBEDDED SYSTEMS Andreas Reich "I can really recommend the master's programme, because it gives me the chance to specialise in electronic engineering and computer science." The future of information and communication technology (ICT) is driven by mobile and networked embedded systems: tomorrow s digital cities, Industry 4.0, cyber-physical systems (CPS) and the Internet of Things (IoT) will all depend on embedded sensing of real-world phenomena, in-situ computation as well as automated information exchange and data distribution using machine-tomachine (M2M) communications between local and distributed control systems and machinery. Our programme trains specialists with the strong background in both computer science and engineering that is indispensable when designing, developing and deploying modern technologies in anything from individual devices to vast, complex systems. As a result, when you graduate from this degree programme you will be a highly sought-after specialist who is ready to design tomorrow s technology for a wide range of economic sectors, including automotive, manufacturing, energy and logistics. msc-mes/ NORTH AND LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES (MANoLAS) Nelly Gottschick The M.A. North and Latin American Studies programme combines North American and Latin American studies to form a unique degree programme, drawing from a variety of academic disciplines and providing students with in-depth knowledge of the two Americas as distinct entities, as well as their global interrelationships. This answers to a growing demand for graduates with a broad academic background and specific knowledge of the Americas, particularly at a time when the North and the South are growing together on many levels, while the rift between Europe and America is widening. "You can swap some courses with international work placements or by working on university projects and the module catalogue covers a truly vast range of subjects." great results in university rankings international double degree options ability to choose your own specialisation degree programme unique to Passau strong international orientation

11 CAMPUS PASSAU I 2017 I MASTER S DEGREES 11 RUSSIAN AND EAST CENTRAL EUROPEAN STUDIES The M.A. Russian and East Central European Studies is a crossdisciplinary programme which allows its students to learn closely about the countries and cultures in Eastern Europe by studying Eastern European history, literature and culture. In addition to imparting solid regional knowledge on Eastern and East-Central Europe, the course also provides its students with methodological, theoretical and practical skills. Students can learn or perfect their Polish, Russian and/or Czech language skills by taking the relevant language centre courses. As the programme is focused on Eastern Europe, you gain essential knowledge of one of the world s primary growth regions. Tatiana Keplikova "It's great to have the opportunity to learn Polish and Czech alongside my degree programme." SEMIOTICS OF TEXTS AND CULTURE Christian Troll "This degree programme is especially relevant for those interested in language, not least because it qualifies you for public relations work." The M.A. Semiotics of Texts and Culture conveys competences in linguistics, literary studies, visual culture and media semiotics. This is done under the aspect of general cultural semiotics, as the systems of signs the shared basis of the above branches of science require deciphering both as a singular phenomenon and in terms of their complex interrelationships. As a student, you can not only choose to focus on the philology of a language (e.g. German or English), but you can create a specialisation more strongly or indeed completely focused on linguistics, literary studies or semiotics. possibility to study while working opportunities for studying abroad fully english-taught programme integrated subjectspecific language programmes accredited programme or accreditation pending

12 12 CAMPUS PASSAU I 2017 I MASTER S DEGREES BUSINESS COMPUTING If you have a first degree with a focus on information systems, the M.Sc. Business Computing programme enables you to consolidate your knowledge of e-business, business information systems, IT management, knowledge management and other current research areas. One special characteristic of the programme concept is the possibility to choose from advanced cross-disciplinary courses closely related to information systems/business computing. This includes subjects like media and communication (e.g. crossmedia, design of computer-mediated learning environments), IT law, business administration (e.g. marketing and social media management), as well as computer science (e.g. information management, software systems and programming, IT security and media computer science). Dorothea Körfgen "It is extremely rewarding to be working on the interface between business and computer science." COMPUTATIONAL MATHEMATICS (PLANNED PROGRAMME) SOON TO COME Summer semester 2018 will see the launch of the English-taught M.Sc. Computational Mathematics programme, an offering directed primarily at those who have successfully completed an undergraduate mathematics programme. The master s programme places a special focus on developing its students' ability to formalise given problems in a way that allows for algorithmic processing as well as enabling them to choose or develop suitable algorithms and subsequently apply them in an appropriate manner. Students can, furthermore, gain advanced knowledge of the mathematical areas of cryptography, computer algebra, algorithmic algebra and geometry, image and signals processing, statistics and stochastic simulation, dynamical systems and control theory as well as expert knowledge in the computer science fields of data management, machine learning and data mining. Moreover, students will have the chance to learn how to apply their knowledge to tackle problems in areas as diverse as marketing, predictive analytics, computational finance, digital humanities, IT security and robotics.

13 CAMPUS PASSAU I 2017 I MASTER S DEGREES 13 "Studying abroad is always beneficial" Vice President for International Relations, Professor Ursula Reutner, talks about the benefits of double degree programmes. Who should be interested in completing a double degree programme? A double degree programme is always particularly interesting for students aiming for an international career. However, even in the domestic labour market, the ability to quickly find your bearings in a new context and adjust to different academic, workplace or everyday cultures is becoming increasingly important day by day. How can interested students gauge the quality of a double degree programme? For all exchange programmes offered by the University of Passau there are detailed course lists that have been agreed with the partner universities and adapted to the institutional requirements: these lists are part of a binding contract. Another aspect is that long-standing partnerships provide a solid basis for a successful double degree programme: students benefit from the experiences of previous double-degree students and often form valuable networks with returning students and those here from the partner university, often before they even begin their study abroad. Accommodation, matriculation and other everyday matters are vastly easier to deal with if you have friends there who lend a hand. Another sing of quality is if the teaching staff from both universities maintain close ties. Regular visits, shared research interests and joint colloquia are very important here, as they provide the opportunity to keep abreast of the latest developments on the partner's side. Thanks to numerous co-operative agreements with universities such as Buenos Aires, Tehran, Malaga and Tokyo, the University of Passau is able to offer its master's students the opportunity to gain a double degree in many subjects; does studying for a double degree automatically mean you have to do twice the work? No, it does not mean that. The programmes are carefully adapted, so that each university recognises all student assessments completed at the partner university either fully or at least partially and counts them towards the degree at the home institution. In fact, this is the great advantage of completing a double degree programme: the time and work required is significantly reduced, if you compare it to studying separately for both degrees. How does studying abroad affect the academic and personal competencies of students? And what does a double degree programme offer that a conventional student exchange cannot? Studying abroad is always beneficial, because doing so raises your sensitivity for cross-cultural communication and exercises your language skills, both day-to-day and subject-specific terminology. When studying a double degree programme, however, the immersion in the other culture is deeper, as you are undertaking a full degree at both universities. This gives you the chance to prove your ability to adapt to and succeed in a foreign system. Upon completion, not only are individual modules recognised, as is the case with an ordinary student exchange, but you gain an additional academic degree from a foreign country. In what ways does the double degree programme enhance the prospects for students, particularly with a view to an increasingly globalised labour market? Having seen two distinct higher education systems from the inside and with two degrees to your name, you have access to better career opportunities with popular employers when you graduate. This is because you have already proven that you can handle unfamiliar situations, that you are open for new things and able to adapt to changing circumstances. What better preparation could there be for successfully dealing with new people, cultures and developments? 7-reasons-for-studying-in-passau/double-degrees/ Interview by Nino Schata

14 14 CAMPUS PASSAU I 2017 I20155 I MASTER S I APPLICATION DEGREES I APPLICATION Choose your degree programme: done! Are you a German national? no Apply now is a new section of the website that streamlines the application process for international applicants. All they have to do now is to click on the apply now button hence the name then answer a few questions about their qualifications and intended programme before being directed to a webpage giving specific guidance on the precise application process to follow. This gives applicants the peace of mind of knowing that they have sent in all required documents on time and allows them to get on with the task of preparing for their studies in Passau. Do you have the required German language certificates? e.g. DSH-2, TestDaF, no Are you applying for M.Sc. Computer Science, M.A. Development Studies or M.A. Russian and East Central European Studies? no Think about an arranging an accomodation before 15 December/15 June! Try our German Courses Passau: Academic German Semester or Academic German Year Wait until you receive a letter from the University. It will include information on what to do next. done!

15 CAMPUS PASSAU I CAMPUS 2017 I PASSAU MASTER S I DEGREES 01 I20155 I APPLICATION 15 yes Please apply directly to the University: GET THEM! no yes Are you still on time? yes Do you have the necessary documents? (certified copies and certified translations) no yes yes See you next semester or year! Follow the instructions at Your application will only be processed once uni-assist has received the FULL application fee! how it is done: fill in the online form print it out sign it sent it to the indicated address

16 An organisational culture which embraces diversity among students irrespective of gender, ethnicity, age, creed or sexual orientation is crucial for maintaining excellence in research and teaching.