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FAQ topic area C) Questions about the conference visits in Module 1

Students are given the opportunity to participate in "conferences" of their choice outside the regular course offerings (these are conferences, a lecture series with several dates, workshops, further training, career advice and much more -> hereinafter referred to as "conference"), which are related to the content of the degree course or the future field of activity. This is intended to promote the development of academic and career-related perspectives.

The choice and recognition of subject-related or career-related "conferences" is generally the responsibility of the students. There is no recognition or approval procedure by the university. Irrespective of this, financial support from the Institute of Social Pedagogy is subject to certain conditions. The same applies to the possibility of preparing a written conference reflection and submitting it to a lecturer (see the relevant questions in this FAQ).

Students must provide evidence of attending four internal or external conference days in the course of their studies. Attending a "conference" lasting at least two days counts as two conference days. Example: Students who attend a three-day conference must provide evidence of two other conference days.

To date, there is no regulation on the duration of a qualifying conference day. However, it is obvious that the duration of a "conference day" should be based on the duration of an entire compact day (morning and afternoon, seven to eight hours) and not on the duration of a single lecture or seminar session (90 minutes). Several different lectures (e.g. Evening Lectures, C.W. Müller Lecture, events organized by the Research Training Group or CiCS) or a series of lectures lasting a compact day can of course be counted as one conference day, but not a single lecture.

Proof of attendance at conferences must be kept by the student for the duration of their studies and presented to the Examination Office on request (proof of attendance at individual events).

Module 1 provides for the acquisition of two credit points for conference attendance. One credit point is awarded for the preparation of a written conference reflection (approx. three pages in length), i.e. you prepare written reflections on two different "conferences" during the course of your studies.

Written conference reflections are accepted from full-time lecturers of the degree program. Please ask a lecturer who researches and teaches in a relevant field of work whether he/she is willing to accept the reflection. Lecturers can refuse to accept a conference reflection if it does not fall thematically within their field of work or if they do not consider the conference to be suitable with regard to the module objectives (development of academic or professional perspectives).

The regulations for Module 1 (see subject examination regulations FPO-M BiSo/MASA) are decisive for the preparation of a conference reflection. The following can be taken from the module description: 1. the scope of a conference reflection should be approx. three A4 pages. 2. the content should be about reflecting on the conference visit and, in particular, about developing your own academic or career-related perspectives.

Coursework must be registered via unisono within the registration deadlines for coursework and examinations - just like any other coursework. If the coursework is not registered in unisono with the lecturer to whom you wish to submit the reflection, please send a short email to the Examinations Office. The registration deadlines for coursework and examinations are set centrally and can be found on the corresponding page of the Examinations Office
page.

Students who wish to claim reimbursement of costs for a trip to an external conference or for conference fees incurred should submit an informal application with a list of the expected costs to the representative(s) of the Institute of Social Pedagogy (to Michael Mayerle) up to four weeks before the start of a "conference" and take care of registration and, if necessary, organization of the trip, accommodation, etc. themselves. Funding can only be granted if it is without doubt an academic conference or a relevant professional event (e.g. a welfare or professional association), or if students can prove that a lecturer considers the conference to be suitable (e.g. a lecturer has actively advertised the conference or has agreed to accept a written reflection on this conference). With regard to billing, please refer to the information sheet on funding student conference attendance.

Yes, you can also attend scientific conferences, lectures, lecture series or workshops outside the regular course offerings that take place at the University of Siegen.

Virtual conference attendance is possible. If the Institute of Social Pedagogy applies to cover the costs, these are settled using the same form as attendance conferences (see information sheet on funding student conference attendance)

Information on conferences can be found on the homepages of professional associations such as DGfE
or DGSA. After registering for the mailing list for Master's students, you will also receive
you will also receive information on current conferences at irregular intervals.

The person responsible for Module 1 is Michael Mayerle (office hours).