Overview
FIT Programme
The International University SDI München is one of 89 higher education institutions in Germany supported by the DAAD’s (German Academic Exchange Service’s)“FIT Programme – Promoting Academic Success and Labour Market Integration of International Talents”, helping to qualify international students for the German labour market.
In collaboration with HSD Hochschule Döpfer (University of Applied Sciences), the joint project CommuniCare was submitted to the DAAD: Our joint CommuniCare project is intended to accompany international students along their entire qualification path with customised offers in order to lead them to success in their studies and subsequently to a professional career in Germany. CommuniCare support spans from the preparation in their home countries for their studies, ensuring a smooth start and successful integration, providing ongoing support throughout their academic journey, and guiding them through the transition into the labour market.
The project runs through the end of 2028 and is designed for international prospective students, current students, and alumni.
FIT services
Your path to higher education studies: Comprehensive support from the start with counselling and guidance from your home country, online consultations, onboarding sessions, and preparatory German courses
Achieving success in your studies: Ongoing support integrated into your academic journey with German courses, counselling, close mentorship, and workshops focused on mental health and intercultural training
Your path to a successful career: German courses for career preparation, workshops on career orientation and job applications, career services including alumni talks, career events, and access to a job portal
You can find an overview of current courses and events here
Learn German
German courses
Are you looking for a German course tailored to your needs? The FIT Programme offers various course formats for everyday life, academic success, and career opportunities.
German courses:
- Professional German courses for international prospective students, current students, and alumni
- Tailored for academic studies, career advancement, or TestDaF preparation
- Available at various language levels, as intensive courses or alongside your studies — offered online or in-person depending on the course
- Free of charge for students, enrolled international students, and alumni
- 4-week courses (face-to-face teaching at the SDI)
- Monday to Friday 9:45 to 13:00 CET (9:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.)
- Courses start at the beginning of each month (year-round) this summer
- Competence levels: July A1 – C1 / August A2 – C2 / September B1+ and B2+
- Focus on all four language skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing
- Interactive course focused on effective communication in German
- Takes place online two afternoons a week
- Minimum requirements for German language skills: B2 competence level (CEFR)
- Methodical elements for scientific work
- Mock exam
- Use of the Moodle learning platform and collaborative tools
- Experienced GFL teachers with additional expertise in the field of business
- Learning from the comfort of your own home
- Saving of time and money (no visa, travel and accommodation costs)
- Interactive live sessions online via Zoom
- Use of modern tools such as the Moodle learning platform
- Courses with participants from all over the world
- Small groups (max. 18 participants)
- Certificate of participation
Expand your skills
Workshops
Through the FIT Programme, we offer free workshops designed to promote academic success and labour market integration for international prospective students and current students.
Your benefits:
- Supporting your integration as an international student and graduate in both academic and professional settings in Germany
- Ensuring your academic success
- Improving your job prospects as a student and graduate
- Promoting career-related support and fostering connections with industry and alumni
Non-verbal communication in the international workplace: professional presence, building business relationships, interview and presentation skills
This interactive seminar will focus on:
- The fundamentals of communication psychology
- Insights into how people communicate without words
- Observation skills to decode subtle gestures
- Techniques to leverage non-verbal communication to your advantage
- Strategies for maintaining a professional demeanour under pressure
Speaker: Dr. Dominik Hamm
Maximum number of participants: 12
Language: English
Date: Wednesday, 13 November 2024, 10:00 – 14:00, Room A 523
Elevate Your Career Prospects: Developing a winning mindset to navigate the job market
This will be hands on interactive workshop where students/alumni will be paired with a partner to discuss and explore each sub topic.
The group will be provided guiding questions to work with each other to:
- Encourage setting goals aligned with their purpose
- Raise awareness of the beliefs that potentially limit from achieving them
- Reprogram their mindset to a more empowering one
Speaker: Jomy Jose
Maximum number of participants: 12
Language: English
Date: Monday, 13 January 2025, 10:00 - 15:00, Room A 416
Mental Health: the transition from studying to working life
This full-day workshop is about dealing with your own mental health. Practical and experience-orientated approaches are used to create a space in which the participants can get to know themselves better and reflect on which external stimuli trigger certain reactions in them and which typical coping patterns.
This interactive seminar will also focus on:
- Stress management and resilience
- Self-care and personal well-being
- Dealing with professional expectations
- Developing individual strategies for challenging situations
Speaker: Calvin Bartel
Maximum number of participants: 12
Language: English
Date: Wednesday, 11 December 2024, 09:30 - 17:30, Room A 522
The following elements may be included in the job orientation workshops and are taught with a hands-on approach:
- Identifying talents and strengths
- Career discovery based on your personality
- Exploring fears and obstacles, and discussing problem-solving strategies
- Interactive discussions for sharing experiences
Speaker: tbd
Maximum number of participants: 12
Language: English
Date: to be announced soon!
Lost in research? Get organised with Zotero!
Are you currently studying or conducting your own research? Then this workshop is for you!
This interactive workshop will focus on the following topics:
- Streamline your research workflow
- Get to know Zotero - a powerful tool to help you collect, organise and cite research sources.
Please bring your own device with Zotero installed and create an account.
Speaker: Vivianna Tanasi
Maximum number of participants: 12
Language: English
Date: Thursday, 17 October 2024, 17:00 – 19:00, Room A 404
Certificate course: Insight into volunteer interpreting in the field of community interpreting
This interactive workshop focuses on the following topics:
- Insight into (volunteer lay) interpreting
- Requirements for lay interpreters and delimitation of tasks
- Insight into various interpreting situations (authorities, refugees, medicine, education)
- Application of basic interpreting strategies throughout the interpreting process
- Observance of basic rules of behaviour
In addition to German as a foreign language, you should speak at least one other language at a minimum level of B2. Knowledge of the following languages is an advantage for practical application: Arabic, Dari, Farsi, Pashto, Ukrainian, English, French.
After successful participation you will receive a certificate of attendance.
Speakers: Paola Baglione (Image: left), Prof. Dr. Ursula Gross-Dinter (Image: right)
Maximum number of participants: 18
Language: German (minimum level B2)
Date: Saturday, 07 December 2024, 09:30 - 16:30, Room A 523
Occasions
Events
We offer Alumni Talks and Career Days as networking events! Our events provide prospective students, current students, and alumni with valuable opportunities to network, gain practical insights into various career fields, and enhance their career opportunities.
Participating in these events is a crucial step in your professional development. Learn from successful graduates and industry experts who will share their experiences and knowledge, and make the most of this opportunity to connect with potential employers.
Whether you're exploring options or have clear career goals: Alumni Talks and Career Days cater to all interests and career stages.
Take charge of your professional future and join us at the next event!
Digital Cultures at Work is an alumni networking community born from the initiative of former students at the International University SDI München. Its goal is to promote regular exchange, maintain our connections, and reconnect with SDI alumni.
Who’s invited to join? All alumni are warmly welcome. Current SDI students are also encouraged to participate. Feel free to take an active role by reaching out to anyone you think could make an exciting contribution and enrich our discussions.
We look forward to reconnecting, building new relationships, and collaborating with you. Join us today and become part of this vibrant and valuable community!
30 July 2024: LinkedIn Webinar Digital Cultures @ Work
A Career in Intercultural Training & Coaching: Education & Skills
What are the essential skills needed to be an intercultural trainer? What does a career in this field look like? What competencies are crucial for success? These questions, along with many others, will be the focus of our Webinar #6: Digital Cultures @ Work.
Join us for a discussion with Fatma Haggui, M.A. in Intercultural Communication, and Prof. Dr. Thomas Wilhelm, Programme Director of the Master’s programme at the International University SDI München.
More about Fatma Haggui:
Fatma Haggui completed her Master of Arts in 2023. She now works as a trainer in intercultural communication and as a project manager at Technica Engineering GmbH.
(This event has already taken place: Watch the recording here)
(Registration: The date for the next event will be announced soon)
Certificate
FIT Certificate
After obtaining the FIT certificate you will have ...
- ... an additional qualification to boost your job prospects.
- ... developed intercultural competence and language skills for the German labour market.
- ... built and expanded your network while still studying.
- ... completed high-quality courses and workshops funded by DAAD and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research through the FIT Programme.
Requirements
Complete a course on scientific work
Complete a career orientation workshop
Complete an intercultural training or community interpreting workshop
Complete a job application training workshop
Complete two German language courses
BECOME A COLLABORATIVE PARTNER ...
- ... if you’re looking to attract motivated talent for working student jobs, internships, both domestic and international, or full-time positions.
- ... if you want to support our students financially as a scholarship provider.
- ... if you’re interested in networking events with students and alumni.
- ... if you wish to present yourself as an attractive employer at one of our career events – through a presentation or workshop.
Calender
Calender
October 2024 Scientific work | November 2024 Intercultural training | December 2024 Mental health | January 2025 Job application training |
February 2025 Career Day | March 2025 Job orientation | April 2025 Career Day | May 2025 Scientific work |
June 2025 Mental health Job application training | July 2025 -
| August 2025 -
| September 2025 -
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