February is almost around the corner, which means the Erasmus application deadline for the academic year 2010/11 is slowly approaching. Therefore, for those of you interested in the adventure “Erasmus exchange”, I have summarized some hopefully helpful information about one of Communication’s exchange universities - the FH Gelsenkirchen, University of Applied Science in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

The city of Gelsenkirchen, in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany is located in the centre of the so called “Ruhrgebiet” or as the locals would say “Ruhrpott”. The FH Gelsenkirchen is, since its establishment in 1992, part of this multicultural region.

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Name: Fachhochschule (FH) Gelsenkirchen

Established: August 1^st 1992

Locations: Gelsenkirchen (Journalism and PR), Bocholt, Recklinghausen

State: Nordrhein-Westfalen

Country: Germany

Student capacity: appr. 6600

The FH (Fachhochschule) Gelsenkirchen is a local University of Applied Science in Gelsenkirchen with campuses in Bocholt and Recklinghausen. All lectures, though, concerning the Bachelor degree for Journalism and Public Relations are held in Gelsenkirchen itself. The department of Journalism and PR is still in its toddler years after it has replaced its precursor degree of Journalism and Technological Communications in 2005. The combination of these two demanding professions has been unique since it gives students a combined overview of two media degrees, which so far have been offered separately in Germany, making the University of Gelsenkirchen a forerunner in this field. Also remarkable and unique is the “family like atmosphere” between its seven professors and its approximately 300 JPR students. “It’s a small department and thus very ‘family like,’” says Prof. Dr. Rainer Janz, the International Coordinator of the faculty, who is also the contact person for incoming Erasmus students. “We try to maintain a communicative and social university culture, “ he continues. Hence, trying to make university life as easy and pleasant as possible for students.

The ‘family like atmosphere’ that Prof. Dr. Janz describes seems to be a result of

the its small student number. Each winter semester only 65 students are admitted to the course of Journalism and PR. Why? Due to its increasing popularity among High School graduates and Journalism’s demanding career conditions, universities such as the FH Gelsenkirchen impose high entrance qualifications. Thus, only giving students with an over average university entrance diploma the possibility to enter the course. The rest of the applicants, well, they have hopefully a plan B in their pockets or loads of patience since the waiting list for JPR students is long and may take them up to eight semesters until they will be able to enter the course.

Now, for those of you who think, “This sounds good; great university…I would like to give it a shot ” but hesitate because of your ‘poor’ German skills, you better open your eyes and ears since the following piece of information may change your mind. Besides the possibility to improve your German skills in a so called “ speech centre”, which is, of course, free of charge for university students, you may also choose English speaking courses. “Obviously the choice of subjects depends on the students knowledge and ability to communicate in German and it has to be discussed with me in prior,” Prof. Dr. Janz says. However, for those of you who do not feel confident and secure in handling kilometre long German words (…) “there is also the possibility of taking English speaking courses,” Prof. Dr. Janz says. And future 2010/11 Erasmus exchange students may be choosing from a larger even palette of English speaking classes if new subjects such as advanced Marketing, PR strategies and International PR will get their final blessing to be offered in English.

For anyone who is still not convinced, here is the cherry on top: Pre -exam time in Malt is usually described by students as one of the most stressful and unpleasant time at the end of each semester, easily noticeable by a sudden increase of students and noise in the library ,half full lecture rooms and panic marked faces. Being assessed at the FH Gelsenkirchen may not take away your panic attacks but it will definitely make your assessments more pleasurable due to its distribution throughout your study period and will mainly consist of presentations, projects or assignments.

Last but not least, the FH Gelsenkirchen will also offer you a decent place to sleep. This will be at its student residence in Gelsenkirchen Erle (district of Gelsenkirchen). You will be sharing an apartment with up to four people with common bath, kitchen and living room area but with private bedroom. From there, the University is easily reached in 30 minutes by local public transportation. During your stay you will be given a six-month ‘student rail pass’, which will become your best friend if you want to use public transport for free.

Now its your turn to make your Erasmus exchange not only a dream but a dream come true!

For more information about Journalism and PR at the FH Gelsenkirchen, please visit: http://www3.fh-gelsenkirchen.de/JPR/index.php?rub=home

For further questions and concerns, please contact:

Prof. Dr. Rainer Janz

Fachhochschule Gelsenkirchen

Institut für Journalismus und PR

Lehrgebiet: Betriebswirtschaft und Kommunikation

Neidenburger Straße 10

45877 Gelsenkirchen

0209/9596-820

www3.fh-gelsenkirchen.de/JPR

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For more information about the student residence, please contact:

Gilda Günther

Fachhochschule Gelsenkirchen

International office

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BY  Jeannette Skowronek

Basic Reporting Assignment