Every year in the last week of January, the "Bridge Week" takes place at Karlshochschule. This is the time where all our 5th Semester IB, Management, IR and PPE students come back from their respective exchange destinations and back to Karls, just before they embark again on their next journey, the intergrated internship semester. 

During this intensive week, the students will firstly reflect upon their abroad experiences with us in the International Office, and most importantly each other, through the framework of the Connect 2.0 project. The "Re-entry training" focuses on the last 6 months, identifying the process and personal development that all the students had gone through and how this can be transferred, then applied back into daily life. This workshop can be of great benefit to you as a Karls student for several reasons, firstly and clearly speaking, the semester abroad can be a transformative process, life-changing even; it can also be sometimes a difficult process as you are going to live in a new country, city and culture for almost half a year. A lot can happen in 6 months and sometimes upon coming back, a reflection is indeed necessary to "re-adapt" back into reality so to say. Not only that, discussions with fellow peers who have all been in the same position as you can bring realisations that you never even thought of, especially when it comes to identifying transferrable skills and competencies. 

I am a massive advocate of educational mobility and the semester abroad (not just because of my job in the IO), I strongly believe the semester abroad is a fantastic opportunity that changes lives and genuinely changes perspectives. The great thing about this aspect within the sphere of academia is that it's becoming ever-more accessible. The next ERASMUS+ project announced by the European Commission from next year, 2021 to 2027 will be doubling it's overall budget, from around €15 Billion euros to a whopping €30 Billion euros. What does this mean for you?  It means more opportunities via the ERASMUS+ network, it means more support for students studying in Europe to further progress in personal development and obtain new experiences.  You can read the full proposal here and the official press release here for more information. 

With all this said, the semester abroad is something that should be appreciated and not taken for granted, it is an opportunity that in the grand scheme of education, is still something not many students get the opportunity to experience. ERASMUS is just one of the networks stretching throughout the globe (yes, also outside of Europe with the International Credit Mobility scheme), that is pro-actively trying to encourage more people to jump outside of their reality to study, work, learn and live in other parts of the world.  

Now my only hope is that the United Kingdom continues to participate in the ERASMUS+ programmes, but this all depends on the next 10 months with negotiations during the transition period.  To not be a participating country within ERASMUS+ would be a significant blow to higher education in Britain. If you want to see concrete benefits of the study abroad, you can also read the report from @universitiesuk which really outlines how a study abroad experience can make you stand out of the crowd. 

12^th December 2019. ELECTION DAY.

In today’s headlines, it is being labelled as the “most important general election in a generation”. For me, I definitely see it as a vote not just for Britain and its future (also with Europe); but my future and the prospects of my generation and future generations which will be affected by the actions undertaken by the next Parliament. 

For Europe and the world observing the U.K, the spotlight is focused on what steps will be taken after this election over Brexit; a term which has even been officially added to the Oxford Dictionary. Although this is fundamentally one of the key influences in my ballot choice today, it’s also about the NHS, Education, Environmental policy and the foundation of democracy. In my opinion our political system has suffered heavily in its credibility and legitimacy over what feels like an eternity of stagnant debating, dirty politics and media-spins which has produced a country suffering from an ideological division.

The 2016 referendum empowered me to vote because of how the result would literally affect my personal situation, before this time I was, unfortunately like many others within my generation, disengaged in politics and didn’t understand why voting is so important. I think this time around, today’s election has really brought back the passion into politics and voting for many. The polarisation that we are witnessing within political ideologies on a scale bigger than just the U.K. and Europe (take the U.S.A for example), has sparked the call for people to stand up for what they believe in and actually go and vote, regardless of what or who it is they believe in. In a way I feel proud of standing up for what I believe in through casting my postal vote. Of course, the implications of this polarity have also encouraged perspectives towards othering “us vs. them” and facilitated strategies by parties to deliberately manipulate, misinform and sway decisions. Whatever the result is today, this is something which demands political reform and must be eliminated.

Having the legal right to vote and it’s importance is something we need to remember- you have a vote and a legal right to do so- it is something so easy to overlook or take for granted, there are cases all around the world where people have had to fight for this right.

If you aren’t sure what party to vote for- there are neutral platforms which can provide you with guidance, such as -> https://voteforpolicies.org.uk/.  

Stand up for what you believe in and vote!  I’ll be watching closely at the counting later.

Good luck Britain.

I don’t know about others, but growing up in Birmingham I never really experienced the feeling of being “European”, rather just the feeling of being British.  The concept of a single Europe was something not at all central to my values before or really the values of my social background.   I don’t see a polarized difference between Germany and Britain and the perception of Europe, however I would say that moving to Karlsruhe did change my perspective in this significantly. I’m not sure if it’s because of the 2016 Referendum or not- but Germany, or at least Karlsruhe in my opinion, is a strong example of how an integrated Europe can operate. This is something I really started to feel when moving here, there is no way to confirm that everybody here feels European and believes in the EU, but I would say that in mainland Europe there is a strong sense of normalness to people moving freely for work, studying or “just because they can”.  There are also lots of initiatives sponsored by the state to encourage integration such as subsidized language courses, policies to facilitate training for skills, recognize degrees and existing qualifications.

Karlsruhe as a city is extremely diverse for a town of its size. When specifically focusing on European citizens in Karlsruhe, there are people from all over the continent who move around for different reasons, it’s mainly work or study related as Baden-Württemberg is reputable for its business and technological strengths, alongside a good foundation of educational institutions and universities in the region. I feel welcomed here as a non-German in a very tolerant and accepting welcome culture.

Sometimes I think there is a detachment entwined within the British and European identity. There are several reasons for this; one of the reasons for a “social detachment” from Europe by some of the British population might be because of the geographical detachment between the British Isles and mainland Europe. For us Brits, to access Europe we either have to fly, take a boat or get the train via the Eurostar, it’s an interesting perspective to consider that normally, a lot of people from Britain might only go to Europe for a holiday, a short weekend break, or work-related visits. It is definitely more of a commitment, sometimes even effort and more expensive, for people to travel to mainland Europe (and vice-versa for those visiting the UK). Compared to other European countries, the number of British nationals living outside of the UK (excluding for retirement) to work, study is drastically low in comparison to other European nationals. Even just looking at the mobility figures in Higher Education in Britain; only 6.6% of UK undergraduate students study, work or volunteers overseas during their degree (with a national target of 13% by 2020) according to a report taken from Universities UK International -> full case report here. Compared to an increasing 25% in Germany (with a national target of 50% by 2020). The big shame here is there are a lot of students who aren’t aware of how accessible it can be to engage in an abroad mobility via higher education. It could be life changing and it might even be the easiest time to experience living abroad- with a safety net of two universities and financial aid via ERASMUS+ if applicable.  According to the same study, those who go abroad within their degree are 7% higher average wage earners, six months after graduation. There are tons of opportunities waiting to be grabbed, sometimes I think me ending up in Germany was down to chance- I was in the right place, at the right time with the mindset to seize the opportunity that had been placed before me (my first mobility to Germany was partly funded via the ERASMUS+ network). I think this because it was never really advertised as a possibility beforehand, I genuinely thought you had to have lots of money behind you to do it.

Back to the topic of identity, the size of Britain and the fact that it is geographically not connected to another landmass I think impacts how people think about the rest of the world around them. When being in mainland Europe, it’s possible for you to take a train to anywhere else in Europe, Moscow, or even Beijing.  From Britain, regardless of where you go, a border must be crossed with a different process than just jumping in your car (or the train) and ending up in another country.  In my opinion this has an impact on Britain and how identifiable it can be, when thinking of Europe. This “separation” may also affect the impact of cross-cultural events or cooperative projects taking place between Britain other European countries.

A nice comparison to this, would be how the United Kingdom works with England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland (and Ireland) when it comes to mobility and freedom of movement between borders, it would be borderless to go from England to Wales, or Scotland for a day, a weekend or a trip. This is how it feels when I’m in Germany and the rest of Europe- sometimes I’ve cycled to France, gone to Switzerland for the day, taken a bus to Italy, this year I even took a bus to Slovakia via the Czech Republic.

I’ve decided at this crucial point in both British and European history to dedicate some of my next few ambassador posts about the metaphorical elephant in the room called Brexit. I’ve had several people approach me since I’ve started posting as the UK Karls ambassador, asking me why I haven’t already previously. So this will be officially the first post of three, discussing the in’s and out’s and what it’s like living in Germany since day one.

I don’t think voicing political opinion on social media is relevant as it’s not only a controversial instrument that can be utilized (as I’m sure we’ve all seen and experienced over the last 5 years) but also because it’s my view, and a subjective one at that. I have one perspective on the matter where there are hundreds of others that also should be considered when discussing the current political situation of Britain and its past, present and potential future relationship to the EU. That’s why I’m going to rather discuss the potential implications of Brexit, not from a political or social standpoint, but instead from the point of how it will directly affect me and my position as a British national living, working (and integrating) within mainland Europe and Germany.

I do feel that it’s incredibly important, however, to openly discuss the insights into my experiences as a Brit in Germany because I strongly believe Brexit should not discourage anyone from moving to Germany (or anywhere in Europe) to study, work and live. It could be, as I’ve always said, the best decision you’ll ever make.  This is why I plan on diving into what it’s been like for me over an almost five-year period of living outside of the UK. Importantly, I want to address how studying in Karlsruhe full-time has had an impact on my perspectives towards certain things and in-turn, opened my eyes to an array of new opportunities (and possibilities).

So first and foremost, back to the literal implications. I know that for a lot of British students there is the underlying first question that springs to mind when even considering the thought of moving outside of the UK to study: “what will happen after Brexit?”.

Right now, there is no way (in my opinion, of course) that I, or anyone can give you a clear answer based on the last three and a half years of political decisions and advancements with the entire process. We can maybe have more of an insight after the December 12^thsnap election which direction the UK will take, but after the years of delay and the historically huge, volatile stalemate in Parliament, we can still keep our options open into what actually will happen.

As it stands now, there are clear procedures in place from the side of the German government that will allow British nationals in Germany to “Keep Calm and Carry On” as usual. As it stands, there will be a three-month period where your right to live, work and study in Germany remains unchanged, with a potential six-month extension, easily giving you the opportunity to make an appointment with the local Ausländerbehörde (the local office for migration and asylum) and apply for a residence permit in Germany.

The conditions of this are yet to be determined regarding what documents and requirements you will need to get this approved as there is no universal regulation for all third-country nationals applying for visas and residence permits in Germany. There are different agreements with several countries that are established on a country-to-country basis.

Regarding the ERASMUS+ network, it is currently projected that funding will be secured until the end of 2020, providing that there is an exit on the basis of an agreed deal. This means that if you were looking to come to Germany on a semester abroad under an ERAMSUS mobility, you would still be eligible for financial support and there are even discussions for an extension for this period. The participation of the UK in ERASMUS after 2020 is not yet clear, though, and must still be established / agreed upon. I can now only assume that an agreement will be made between the UK and the EU to outline the specific requirements and processes, in the case of both a deal and no-deal Brexit.

What’s important to note is that I can say with confidence that I won’t need to pack my bags and leave immediately, nor will any other British national who is living in Germany. I have to say that from my experience here, there is in no way an unwelcoming or unfriendly attitude since the 2016 referendum; quite the contrary in fact. I have always felt very welcome here in Germany and have no-doubt that won’t change because of Brexit. I would say there is some level of sadness and maybe even sorrow in Germany (and Europe) about Brexit, as Britain does have a strong and positive role within the European Union as a founding country, but it’s never something that has been subject to negative or discriminatory behaviour towards me personally.

If you want more specific information on the status and rights of British nationals post-Brexit, you can check out the official website of BMI (Federal Ministry of Interior, Building and Community) and the official UK Government page on Living in Germany.

If you want more information on the status of ERASMUS+ and the UK’s participation in the mobility network- you can find more information here.

More of this to come in more posts! Next time I’ll be talking about values and European identity.

Growing up I never ever had the idea that one day I would work, speak and live with a second language. Not only did I never have the motivation to learn but it was never really encouraged during my schooling years. Last month I took my "Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer". This is a course subsidised by the German government to encourage non-Germans to learn the language and in-turn, integrate into society (a great incentive to learn the language in my opinion). For the last year and a half, I have been attending intensive German classes for 12 hours a week and now I can finally say I am at a level where I can work and interact with my colleagues in German. 

By no means was it an easy road and at times, involved me going way out of my comfort zone, but learning German has opened new doors for me to understand German culture, meet new people and significantly boosted my confidence when living here. I also think that regardless of where I am, knowing German as a second language is a very employable competency to have. I still have a long way to go with becoming fluent, but progress is progress! 

Why did I become an Ambassador? 

One of the things I'm told often is that I am "very Karls" (whatever that means), rather I think that if I believe in something, then I dedicate a high level of passion towards it. This is something that I've figured out whilst studying at Karlshochschule and is definitely something I have when I think about International Education. One of my main reasons for becoming an ambassador for the UK is wanting others to have the possibility of studying abroad like I have. I think this is also why I immediately enjoyed my job here in the International Office, I got the chance from the very beginning to make an impact on the paths of various students. From consulting people who were trying to choose where to go on their semester abroad and preparing them for that step through workshops and info sessions, to welcoming our incoming exchange students and supporting them whilst they are here on all levels. 

The hottest Easter Weekend on record in Britain! Definitely chose the right time to visit one of my favourite places at home. If you have never been to Brighton, you definitely should. A small bank holiday weekend break away back at home is just what I needed to relieve the feelings of homesickness and restock my supply of crumpets and teabags.  

Every year there are always several marathons, half marathons and runs dotted around Karlsruhe and the region. Karlshochschule as a University always registers for this with the KarlsRunners, an initiative started by our students to encourage everyone to come together and run together! Last Sunday was the Badische Meile which took place through the centre of Karlsruhe. There were over 6000 participants, 30 of which were Karlshochschule staff/ students. I had never really been into running until I started training for this run, it was no marathon mind (9km in total), but now that summer is starting to arrive we have started to run daily during our lunch break at work. Bring on the next Half-Marathon in November! 

After completing my studies at the Karls I applied for a job in the International Office. The International Office does exactly what it says on the tin and more. We are the international face of Karlshochschule, we represent the Karls to our global network and university partners, we integrate our incoming exchange students to make sure they have a fun and memorable exchange experience whilst preparing our students for when they go on their mandatory semester abroad to one of our 112 partner universities. We estasblish new partnerships and maintain the current ones to make sure we really are international.  The photo is me and my partner in crime; Dr. Alexander Trefz A.K.A the Doctor of Cuban History, lover of 80s music, eater of Bananas.  

I love my job, I firmly believe in international higher education, and now I am proactively making an impact in showing students what is possible for them. I had someone who showed me and influenced me to explore these options, thats why I am here. Now I strive to be that same person to others in making a difference to them and their perspectives. 

I came to Karlsruhe for the first time in February, 2014 whilst in my final semester studying Business Management & IT at Newman University, Birmingham. Looking back to "Emerald Forest" 2014, it really made a significant impact on my life. Not only did I meet friends for life during this incredibly short time (1 week) - I also experienced for one of the first times in my life what it meant to be immersed in an international learning environment. The way things are done at the Karls are pretty special, I can only say that in a biased way but it's really difficult to pinpoint what makes us so special.  Fast forward five years on, I moved here, I did a 2 year Master program and from 2017 to now I've worked in the International Office. In this job I'm primarily responsible for our incoming exchange students, ERASMUS+ funding; mobility between Karlshochschule and our 105+ current partner universities and making sure the Karls is prominent within the global higher education network.

Every year in the last week of January, the "Bridge Week" takes place at Karlshochschule. This is the time where all our 5th Semester IB, Management, IR and PPE students come back from their respective exchange destinations and back to Karls, just before they embark again on their next journey, the intergrated internship semester. 

During this intensive week, the students will firstly reflect upon their abroad experiences with us in the International Office, and most importantly each other, through the framework of the Connect 2.0 project. The "Re-entry training" focuses on the last 6 months, identifying the process and personal development that all the students had gone through and how this can be transferred, then applied back into daily life. This workshop can be of great benefit to you as a Karls student for several reasons, firstly and clearly speaking, the semester abroad can be a transformative process, life-changing even; it can also be sometimes a difficult process as you are going to live in a new country, city and culture for almost half a year. A lot can happen in 6 months and sometimes upon coming back, a reflection is indeed necessary to "re-adapt" back into reality so to say. Not only that, discussions with fellow peers who have all been in the same position as you can bring realisations that you never even thought of, especially when it comes to identifying transferrable skills and competencies. 

I am a massive advocate of educational mobility and the semester abroad (not just because of my job in the IO), I strongly believe the semester abroad is a fantastic opportunity that changes lives and genuinely changes perspectives. The great thing about this aspect within the sphere of academia is that it's becoming ever-more accessible. The next ERASMUS+ project announced by the European Commission from next year, 2021 to 2027 will be doubling it's overall budget, from around €15 Billion euros to a whopping €30 Billion euros. What does this mean for you?  It means more opportunities via the ERASMUS+ network, it means more support for students studying in Europe to further progress in personal development and obtain new experiences.  You can read the full proposal here and the official press release here for more information. 

With all this said, the semester abroad is something that should be appreciated and not taken for granted, it is an opportunity that in the grand scheme of education, is still something not many students get the opportunity to experience. ERASMUS is just one of the networks stretching throughout the globe (yes, also outside of Europe with the International Credit Mobility scheme), that is pro-actively trying to encourage more people to jump outside of their reality to study, work, learn and live in other parts of the world.  

Now my only hope is that the United Kingdom continues to participate in the ERASMUS+ programmes, but this all depends on the next 10 months with negotiations during the transition period.  To not be a participating country within ERASMUS+ would be a significant blow to higher education in Britain. If you want to see concrete benefits of the study abroad, you can also read the report from @universitiesuk which really outlines how a study abroad experience can make you stand out of the crowd. 

12^th December 2019. ELECTION DAY.

In today’s headlines, it is being labelled as the “most important general election in a generation”. For me, I definitely see it as a vote not just for Britain and its future (also with Europe); but my future and the prospects of my generation and future generations which will be affected by the actions undertaken by the next Parliament. 

For Europe and the world observing the U.K, the spotlight is focused on what steps will be taken after this election over Brexit; a term which has even been officially added to the Oxford Dictionary. Although this is fundamentally one of the key influences in my ballot choice today, it’s also about the NHS, Education, Environmental policy and the foundation of democracy. In my opinion our political system has suffered heavily in its credibility and legitimacy over what feels like an eternity of stagnant debating, dirty politics and media-spins which has produced a country suffering from an ideological division.

The 2016 referendum empowered me to vote because of how the result would literally affect my personal situation, before this time I was, unfortunately like many others within my generation, disengaged in politics and didn’t understand why voting is so important. I think this time around, today’s election has really brought back the passion into politics and voting for many. The polarisation that we are witnessing within political ideologies on a scale bigger than just the U.K. and Europe (take the U.S.A for example), has sparked the call for people to stand up for what they believe in and actually go and vote, regardless of what or who it is they believe in. In a way I feel proud of standing up for what I believe in through casting my postal vote. Of course, the implications of this polarity have also encouraged perspectives towards othering “us vs. them” and facilitated strategies by parties to deliberately manipulate, misinform and sway decisions. Whatever the result is today, this is something which demands political reform and must be eliminated.

Having the legal right to vote and it’s importance is something we need to remember- you have a vote and a legal right to do so- it is something so easy to overlook or take for granted, there are cases all around the world where people have had to fight for this right.

If you aren’t sure what party to vote for- there are neutral platforms which can provide you with guidance, such as -> https://voteforpolicies.org.uk/.  

Stand up for what you believe in and vote!  I’ll be watching closely at the counting later.

Good luck Britain.

I don’t know about others, but growing up in Birmingham I never really experienced the feeling of being “European”, rather just the feeling of being British.  The concept of a single Europe was something not at all central to my values before or really the values of my social background.   I don’t see a polarized difference between Germany and Britain and the perception of Europe, however I would say that moving to Karlsruhe did change my perspective in this significantly. I’m not sure if it’s because of the 2016 Referendum or not- but Germany, or at least Karlsruhe in my opinion, is a strong example of how an integrated Europe can operate. This is something I really started to feel when moving here, there is no way to confirm that everybody here feels European and believes in the EU, but I would say that in mainland Europe there is a strong sense of normalness to people moving freely for work, studying or “just because they can”.  There are also lots of initiatives sponsored by the state to encourage integration such as subsidized language courses, policies to facilitate training for skills, recognize degrees and existing qualifications.

Karlsruhe as a city is extremely diverse for a town of its size. When specifically focusing on European citizens in Karlsruhe, there are people from all over the continent who move around for different reasons, it’s mainly work or study related as Baden-Württemberg is reputable for its business and technological strengths, alongside a good foundation of educational institutions and universities in the region. I feel welcomed here as a non-German in a very tolerant and accepting welcome culture.

Sometimes I think there is a detachment entwined within the British and European identity. There are several reasons for this; one of the reasons for a “social detachment” from Europe by some of the British population might be because of the geographical detachment between the British Isles and mainland Europe. For us Brits, to access Europe we either have to fly, take a boat or get the train via the Eurostar, it’s an interesting perspective to consider that normally, a lot of people from Britain might only go to Europe for a holiday, a short weekend break, or work-related visits. It is definitely more of a commitment, sometimes even effort and more expensive, for people to travel to mainland Europe (and vice-versa for those visiting the UK). Compared to other European countries, the number of British nationals living outside of the UK (excluding for retirement) to work, study is drastically low in comparison to other European nationals. Even just looking at the mobility figures in Higher Education in Britain; only 6.6% of UK undergraduate students study, work or volunteers overseas during their degree (with a national target of 13% by 2020) according to a report taken from Universities UK International -> full case report here. Compared to an increasing 25% in Germany (with a national target of 50% by 2020). The big shame here is there are a lot of students who aren’t aware of how accessible it can be to engage in an abroad mobility via higher education. It could be life changing and it might even be the easiest time to experience living abroad- with a safety net of two universities and financial aid via ERASMUS+ if applicable.  According to the same study, those who go abroad within their degree are 7% higher average wage earners, six months after graduation. There are tons of opportunities waiting to be grabbed, sometimes I think me ending up in Germany was down to chance- I was in the right place, at the right time with the mindset to seize the opportunity that had been placed before me (my first mobility to Germany was partly funded via the ERASMUS+ network). I think this because it was never really advertised as a possibility beforehand, I genuinely thought you had to have lots of money behind you to do it.

Back to the topic of identity, the size of Britain and the fact that it is geographically not connected to another landmass I think impacts how people think about the rest of the world around them. When being in mainland Europe, it’s possible for you to take a train to anywhere else in Europe, Moscow, or even Beijing.  From Britain, regardless of where you go, a border must be crossed with a different process than just jumping in your car (or the train) and ending up in another country.  In my opinion this has an impact on Britain and how identifiable it can be, when thinking of Europe. This “separation” may also affect the impact of cross-cultural events or cooperative projects taking place between Britain other European countries.

A nice comparison to this, would be how the United Kingdom works with England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland (and Ireland) when it comes to mobility and freedom of movement between borders, it would be borderless to go from England to Wales, or Scotland for a day, a weekend or a trip. This is how it feels when I’m in Germany and the rest of Europe- sometimes I’ve cycled to France, gone to Switzerland for the day, taken a bus to Italy, this year I even took a bus to Slovakia via the Czech Republic.

I’ve decided at this crucial point in both British and European history to dedicate some of my next few ambassador posts about the metaphorical elephant in the room called Brexit. I’ve had several people approach me since I’ve started posting as the UK Karls ambassador, asking me why I haven’t already previously. So this will be officially the first post of three, discussing the in’s and out’s and what it’s like living in Germany since day one.

I don’t think voicing political opinion on social media is relevant as it’s not only a controversial instrument that can be utilized (as I’m sure we’ve all seen and experienced over the last 5 years) but also because it’s my view, and a subjective one at that. I have one perspective on the matter where there are hundreds of others that also should be considered when discussing the current political situation of Britain and its past, present and potential future relationship to the EU. That’s why I’m going to rather discuss the potential implications of Brexit, not from a political or social standpoint, but instead from the point of how it will directly affect me and my position as a British national living, working (and integrating) within mainland Europe and Germany.

I do feel that it’s incredibly important, however, to openly discuss the insights into my experiences as a Brit in Germany because I strongly believe Brexit should not discourage anyone from moving to Germany (or anywhere in Europe) to study, work and live. It could be, as I’ve always said, the best decision you’ll ever make.  This is why I plan on diving into what it’s been like for me over an almost five-year period of living outside of the UK. Importantly, I want to address how studying in Karlsruhe full-time has had an impact on my perspectives towards certain things and in-turn, opened my eyes to an array of new opportunities (and possibilities).

So first and foremost, back to the literal implications. I know that for a lot of British students there is the underlying first question that springs to mind when even considering the thought of moving outside of the UK to study: “what will happen after Brexit?”.

Right now, there is no way (in my opinion, of course) that I, or anyone can give you a clear answer based on the last three and a half years of political decisions and advancements with the entire process. We can maybe have more of an insight after the December 12^thsnap election which direction the UK will take, but after the years of delay and the historically huge, volatile stalemate in Parliament, we can still keep our options open into what actually will happen.

As it stands now, there are clear procedures in place from the side of the German government that will allow British nationals in Germany to “Keep Calm and Carry On” as usual. As it stands, there will be a three-month period where your right to live, work and study in Germany remains unchanged, with a potential six-month extension, easily giving you the opportunity to make an appointment with the local Ausländerbehörde (the local office for migration and asylum) and apply for a residence permit in Germany.

The conditions of this are yet to be determined regarding what documents and requirements you will need to get this approved as there is no universal regulation for all third-country nationals applying for visas and residence permits in Germany. There are different agreements with several countries that are established on a country-to-country basis.

Regarding the ERASMUS+ network, it is currently projected that funding will be secured until the end of 2020, providing that there is an exit on the basis of an agreed deal. This means that if you were looking to come to Germany on a semester abroad under an ERAMSUS mobility, you would still be eligible for financial support and there are even discussions for an extension for this period. The participation of the UK in ERASMUS after 2020 is not yet clear, though, and must still be established / agreed upon. I can now only assume that an agreement will be made between the UK and the EU to outline the specific requirements and processes, in the case of both a deal and no-deal Brexit.

What’s important to note is that I can say with confidence that I won’t need to pack my bags and leave immediately, nor will any other British national who is living in Germany. I have to say that from my experience here, there is in no way an unwelcoming or unfriendly attitude since the 2016 referendum; quite the contrary in fact. I have always felt very welcome here in Germany and have no-doubt that won’t change because of Brexit. I would say there is some level of sadness and maybe even sorrow in Germany (and Europe) about Brexit, as Britain does have a strong and positive role within the European Union as a founding country, but it’s never something that has been subject to negative or discriminatory behaviour towards me personally.

If you want more specific information on the status and rights of British nationals post-Brexit, you can check out the official website of BMI (Federal Ministry of Interior, Building and Community) and the official UK Government page on Living in Germany.

If you want more information on the status of ERASMUS+ and the UK’s participation in the mobility network- you can find more information here.

More of this to come in more posts! Next time I’ll be talking about values and European identity.

For the first two weeks of August, I spent two weeks in Hamburg for a training course in how to facilitate and design workshops with a subsidiary of AFS (a non-profit intercultural exchange organization), Intercultur Gmbh. We were intensively working for the two weeks, learning various cultural theories and how to generate awareness of topics that are important in our global society, such as cross-cultural working, communication and collaboration- alongside working on methods to stimulate / build upon intercultural competence in a practial, seminar styled setting. Even as intensive and sometimes challenging as this course was, it was an unforgettable and enjoyable experience, giving me the tools and methods I needed to facilitate workshops and classes at Karlshochschule. I will directly implement these new insights into our Connect 2.0 project, the workshops and trainings that we hold to prepare Karls students to go on their integrated semester abroad. 

In addition, I had the opportunity to build my network in this field of training and meet similar-minded people in the same job roles as me from all over Europe.  

At the beginning of this month, all the employees both administration staff and professors, came together to spend three days in the Rheinland-Pfalz for a "Mitarbeiterklausur". This employee retreat gave us the opportunity to discuss and reflect about the past, present and importantly, the future of the Karlshochschule and what direction we want to take as a University. It was a fantastic opportunity to communicate with other departments and employees, to establish where we are as individual employees and departmental teams - using our Karls style of teaching to come up with strategies in how to make our working environment even better and our students happy. 

Alongside this, we did get the chance to take some time to relax and enjoy the fantastic scenery of the Rheinland, world famous for it's great wine (which we also experienced to the full, of course). I left the employee retreat feeling refreshed and ready for the preparation of next semester. I also feel thankful, and quite frankly lucky to be part of the Karls, contributing now in the International Office to make an impact on our students in the same way that the Karls impacted me when I studied here. 

One of the Karlsruhe's small claims to fame is it's summer climate. We live in the warmest region in Germany (South-West), and this week we have a heatwave with highs of 38 degrees. Who would of thought that places in Germany are often hotter than Spain and Greece?! There's nothing better than finishing work on a long Tuesday and going to BBQ with a couple of beers after; and that's exactly what we do here often. The great thing about living in Karlsruhe is we can really make the most of the natural surroundings in the city (and there really is alot). Going to the park, swimming in the river,  or going to one of the many quarry lakes dotted around the outskirts, or simply doing a BBQ and having some beers in the park around the corner from Karls. Quality of life here is pretty high I would say, especially for what you pay. It really was one of the impressions I had of Karlsruhe when I first visited, it was also one of the things that made me love Karlsruhe specifically. As far as first impressions go, its second to none. (The picture is of me and Alex being the professional Grillmeisters of the evening)

Another year working in the International Office means another visit to the annual NAFSA conference. As the biggest higher educational conference in the world, it's always important for universities to attend for the purpose of networking with exisiting partner universities and potentially new ones. It gives us a great opportunity as a small university to put Karls on the global map and show what makes us so special. I consider myself to be quite a good networker (sometimes I talk too much infact), but when you are talking about something you believe in, I think it comes naturally.  When I came here for the first time I realised that the Karlshochschule had something special with it's "flipped-classroom" teaching style, it's genuine international atmosphere and strong community feeling. In my job here, I try to portray my experiences and opportunities that I had also in my student life because quite frankly, I think it's a unique university and I've experienced that first-hand. 

Want to know more? Drop me a message via the form below

Every year there are always several marathons, half marathons and runs dotted around Karlsruhe and the region. Karlshochschule as a University always registers for this with the KarlsRunners, an initiative started by our students to encourage everyone to come together and run together! Last Sunday was the Badische Meile which took place through the centre of Karlsruhe. There were over 6000 participants, 30 of which were Karlshochschule staff/ students. I had never really been into running until I started training for this run, it was no marathon mind (9km in total), but now that summer is starting to arrive we have started to run daily during our lunch break at work. Bring on the next Half-Marathon in November! 

Last month we had the pleasure of welcoming and hosting Nottingham Trent University for just under one week. As Nottingham and Karlsruhe are twinned cities, there are various connections between the two through education, public infrastructure, council authorities. 2019 marks the year where Karlsruhe and Nottingham celebrate their 50 year anniversary of the twinned city status, to commemorate this achievement, the European Creative & Smart Cities Challenge was born. Nottingham Trent University (NTU) sent 56 students and 9 academics to Karlsruhe to explore the question “How can cities and universities work together to support creativity and innovation?". The visit was a great success, it was the biggest event I've ever organized in my working life here at the Karls and definitely the biggest campus visit. It was great to have so many students from Nottingham to experience Karlsruhe and the Karls. The picture above is me and Alex, our students with the Mayor of Karlsruhe, the Director of Nottingham City Council and the Director of NTU Global. 

I came to Karlsruhe for the first time in February, 2014 whilst in my final semester studying Business Management & IT at Newman University, Birmingham. Looking back to "Emerald Forest" 2014, it really made a significant impact on my life. Not only did I meet friends for life during this incredibly short time (1 week) - I also experienced for one of the first times in my life what it meant to be immersed in an international learning environment. The way things are done at the Karls are pretty special, I can only say that in a biased way but it's really difficult to pinpoint what makes us so special.  Fast forward five years on, I moved here, I did a 2 year Master program and from 2017 to now I've worked in the International Office. In this job I'm primarily responsible for our incoming exchange students, ERASMUS+ funding; mobility between Karlshochschule and our 105+ current partner universities and making sure the Karls is prominent within the global higher education network.

Every year in the last week of January, the "Bridge Week" takes place at Karlshochschule. This is the time where all our 5th Semester IB, Management, IR and PPE students come back from their respective exchange destinations and back to Karls, just before they embark again on their next journey, the intergrated internship semester. 

During this intensive week, the students will firstly reflect upon their abroad experiences with us in the International Office, and most importantly each other, through the framework of the Connect 2.0 project. The "Re-entry training" focuses on the last 6 months, identifying the process and personal development that all the students had gone through and how this can be transferred, then applied back into daily life. This workshop can be of great benefit to you as a Karls student for several reasons, firstly and clearly speaking, the semester abroad can be a transformative process, life-changing even; it can also be sometimes a difficult process as you are going to live in a new country, city and culture for almost half a year. A lot can happen in 6 months and sometimes upon coming back, a reflection is indeed necessary to "re-adapt" back into reality so to say. Not only that, discussions with fellow peers who have all been in the same position as you can bring realisations that you never even thought of, especially when it comes to identifying transferrable skills and competencies. 

I am a massive advocate of educational mobility and the semester abroad (not just because of my job in the IO), I strongly believe the semester abroad is a fantastic opportunity that changes lives and genuinely changes perspectives. The great thing about this aspect within the sphere of academia is that it's becoming ever-more accessible. The next ERASMUS+ project announced by the European Commission from next year, 2021 to 2027 will be doubling it's overall budget, from around €15 Billion euros to a whopping €30 Billion euros. What does this mean for you?  It means more opportunities via the ERASMUS+ network, it means more support for students studying in Europe to further progress in personal development and obtain new experiences.  You can read the full proposal here and the official press release here for more information. 

With all this said, the semester abroad is something that should be appreciated and not taken for granted, it is an opportunity that in the grand scheme of education, is still something not many students get the opportunity to experience. ERASMUS is just one of the networks stretching throughout the globe (yes, also outside of Europe with the International Credit Mobility scheme), that is pro-actively trying to encourage more people to jump outside of their reality to study, work, learn and live in other parts of the world.  

Now my only hope is that the United Kingdom continues to participate in the ERASMUS+ programmes, but this all depends on the next 10 months with negotiations during the transition period.  To not be a participating country within ERASMUS+ would be a significant blow to higher education in Britain. If you want to see concrete benefits of the study abroad, you can also read the report from @universitiesuk which really outlines how a study abroad experience can make you stand out of the crowd. 

12^th December 2019. ELECTION DAY.

In today’s headlines, it is being labelled as the “most important general election in a generation”. For me, I definitely see it as a vote not just for Britain and its future (also with Europe); but my future and the prospects of my generation and future generations which will be affected by the actions undertaken by the next Parliament. 

For Europe and the world observing the U.K, the spotlight is focused on what steps will be taken after this election over Brexit; a term which has even been officially added to the Oxford Dictionary. Although this is fundamentally one of the key influences in my ballot choice today, it’s also about the NHS, Education, Environmental policy and the foundation of democracy. In my opinion our political system has suffered heavily in its credibility and legitimacy over what feels like an eternity of stagnant debating, dirty politics and media-spins which has produced a country suffering from an ideological division.

The 2016 referendum empowered me to vote because of how the result would literally affect my personal situation, before this time I was, unfortunately like many others within my generation, disengaged in politics and didn’t understand why voting is so important. I think this time around, today’s election has really brought back the passion into politics and voting for many. The polarisation that we are witnessing within political ideologies on a scale bigger than just the U.K. and Europe (take the U.S.A for example), has sparked the call for people to stand up for what they believe in and actually go and vote, regardless of what or who it is they believe in. In a way I feel proud of standing up for what I believe in through casting my postal vote. Of course, the implications of this polarity have also encouraged perspectives towards othering “us vs. them” and facilitated strategies by parties to deliberately manipulate, misinform and sway decisions. Whatever the result is today, this is something which demands political reform and must be eliminated.

Having the legal right to vote and it’s importance is something we need to remember- you have a vote and a legal right to do so- it is something so easy to overlook or take for granted, there are cases all around the world where people have had to fight for this right.

If you aren’t sure what party to vote for- there are neutral platforms which can provide you with guidance, such as -> https://voteforpolicies.org.uk/.  

Stand up for what you believe in and vote!  I’ll be watching closely at the counting later.

Good luck Britain.

I don’t know about others, but growing up in Birmingham I never really experienced the feeling of being “European”, rather just the feeling of being British.  The concept of a single Europe was something not at all central to my values before or really the values of my social background.   I don’t see a polarized difference between Germany and Britain and the perception of Europe, however I would say that moving to Karlsruhe did change my perspective in this significantly. I’m not sure if it’s because of the 2016 Referendum or not- but Germany, or at least Karlsruhe in my opinion, is a strong example of how an integrated Europe can operate. This is something I really started to feel when moving here, there is no way to confirm that everybody here feels European and believes in the EU, but I would say that in mainland Europe there is a strong sense of normalness to people moving freely for work, studying or “just because they can”.  There are also lots of initiatives sponsored by the state to encourage integration such as subsidized language courses, policies to facilitate training for skills, recognize degrees and existing qualifications.

Karlsruhe as a city is extremely diverse for a town of its size. When specifically focusing on European citizens in Karlsruhe, there are people from all over the continent who move around for different reasons, it’s mainly work or study related as Baden-Württemberg is reputable for its business and technological strengths, alongside a good foundation of educational institutions and universities in the region. I feel welcomed here as a non-German in a very tolerant and accepting welcome culture.

Sometimes I think there is a detachment entwined within the British and European identity. There are several reasons for this; one of the reasons for a “social detachment” from Europe by some of the British population might be because of the geographical detachment between the British Isles and mainland Europe. For us Brits, to access Europe we either have to fly, take a boat or get the train via the Eurostar, it’s an interesting perspective to consider that normally, a lot of people from Britain might only go to Europe for a holiday, a short weekend break, or work-related visits. It is definitely more of a commitment, sometimes even effort and more expensive, for people to travel to mainland Europe (and vice-versa for those visiting the UK). Compared to other European countries, the number of British nationals living outside of the UK (excluding for retirement) to work, study is drastically low in comparison to other European nationals. Even just looking at the mobility figures in Higher Education in Britain; only 6.6% of UK undergraduate students study, work or volunteers overseas during their degree (with a national target of 13% by 2020) according to a report taken from Universities UK International -> full case report here. Compared to an increasing 25% in Germany (with a national target of 50% by 2020). The big shame here is there are a lot of students who aren’t aware of how accessible it can be to engage in an abroad mobility via higher education. It could be life changing and it might even be the easiest time to experience living abroad- with a safety net of two universities and financial aid via ERASMUS+ if applicable.  According to the same study, those who go abroad within their degree are 7% higher average wage earners, six months after graduation. There are tons of opportunities waiting to be grabbed, sometimes I think me ending up in Germany was down to chance- I was in the right place, at the right time with the mindset to seize the opportunity that had been placed before me (my first mobility to Germany was partly funded via the ERASMUS+ network). I think this because it was never really advertised as a possibility beforehand, I genuinely thought you had to have lots of money behind you to do it.

Back to the topic of identity, the size of Britain and the fact that it is geographically not connected to another landmass I think impacts how people think about the rest of the world around them. When being in mainland Europe, it’s possible for you to take a train to anywhere else in Europe, Moscow, or even Beijing.  From Britain, regardless of where you go, a border must be crossed with a different process than just jumping in your car (or the train) and ending up in another country.  In my opinion this has an impact on Britain and how identifiable it can be, when thinking of Europe. This “separation” may also affect the impact of cross-cultural events or cooperative projects taking place between Britain other European countries.

A nice comparison to this, would be how the United Kingdom works with England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland (and Ireland) when it comes to mobility and freedom of movement between borders, it would be borderless to go from England to Wales, or Scotland for a day, a weekend or a trip. This is how it feels when I’m in Germany and the rest of Europe- sometimes I’ve cycled to France, gone to Switzerland for the day, taken a bus to Italy, this year I even took a bus to Slovakia via the Czech Republic.

I’ve decided at this crucial point in both British and European history to dedicate some of my next few ambassador posts about the metaphorical elephant in the room called Brexit. I’ve had several people approach me since I’ve started posting as the UK Karls ambassador, asking me why I haven’t already previously. So this will be officially the first post of three, discussing the in’s and out’s and what it’s like living in Germany since day one.

I don’t think voicing political opinion on social media is relevant as it’s not only a controversial instrument that can be utilized (as I’m sure we’ve all seen and experienced over the last 5 years) but also because it’s my view, and a subjective one at that. I have one perspective on the matter where there are hundreds of others that also should be considered when discussing the current political situation of Britain and its past, present and potential future relationship to the EU. That’s why I’m going to rather discuss the potential implications of Brexit, not from a political or social standpoint, but instead from the point of how it will directly affect me and my position as a British national living, working (and integrating) within mainland Europe and Germany.

I do feel that it’s incredibly important, however, to openly discuss the insights into my experiences as a Brit in Germany because I strongly believe Brexit should not discourage anyone from moving to Germany (or anywhere in Europe) to study, work and live. It could be, as I’ve always said, the best decision you’ll ever make.  This is why I plan on diving into what it’s been like for me over an almost five-year period of living outside of the UK. Importantly, I want to address how studying in Karlsruhe full-time has had an impact on my perspectives towards certain things and in-turn, opened my eyes to an array of new opportunities (and possibilities).

So first and foremost, back to the literal implications. I know that for a lot of British students there is the underlying first question that springs to mind when even considering the thought of moving outside of the UK to study: “what will happen after Brexit?”.

Right now, there is no way (in my opinion, of course) that I, or anyone can give you a clear answer based on the last three and a half years of political decisions and advancements with the entire process. We can maybe have more of an insight after the December 12^thsnap election which direction the UK will take, but after the years of delay and the historically huge, volatile stalemate in Parliament, we can still keep our options open into what actually will happen.

As it stands now, there are clear procedures in place from the side of the German government that will allow British nationals in Germany to “Keep Calm and Carry On” as usual. As it stands, there will be a three-month period where your right to live, work and study in Germany remains unchanged, with a potential six-month extension, easily giving you the opportunity to make an appointment with the local Ausländerbehörde (the local office for migration and asylum) and apply for a residence permit in Germany.

The conditions of this are yet to be determined regarding what documents and requirements you will need to get this approved as there is no universal regulation for all third-country nationals applying for visas and residence permits in Germany. There are different agreements with several countries that are established on a country-to-country basis.

Regarding the ERASMUS+ network, it is currently projected that funding will be secured until the end of 2020, providing that there is an exit on the basis of an agreed deal. This means that if you were looking to come to Germany on a semester abroad under an ERAMSUS mobility, you would still be eligible for financial support and there are even discussions for an extension for this period. The participation of the UK in ERASMUS after 2020 is not yet clear, though, and must still be established / agreed upon. I can now only assume that an agreement will be made between the UK and the EU to outline the specific requirements and processes, in the case of both a deal and no-deal Brexit.

What’s important to note is that I can say with confidence that I won’t need to pack my bags and leave immediately, nor will any other British national who is living in Germany. I have to say that from my experience here, there is in no way an unwelcoming or unfriendly attitude since the 2016 referendum; quite the contrary in fact. I have always felt very welcome here in Germany and have no-doubt that won’t change because of Brexit. I would say there is some level of sadness and maybe even sorrow in Germany (and Europe) about Brexit, as Britain does have a strong and positive role within the European Union as a founding country, but it’s never something that has been subject to negative or discriminatory behaviour towards me personally.

If you want more specific information on the status and rights of British nationals post-Brexit, you can check out the official website of BMI (Federal Ministry of Interior, Building and Community) and the official UK Government page on Living in Germany.

If you want more information on the status of ERASMUS+ and the UK’s participation in the mobility network- you can find more information here.

More of this to come in more posts! Next time I’ll be talking about values and European identity.

What makes Karlshochschule different? How does it stand out from the crowd?

I think this is one of the most important questions to ask. Making the commitment to move to a different country, regardless of the benefits, is a significant commitment. You definitely as a student need to be sure of your choice before investing in your future whatever it is you decide to do. Karlshochschule as a university is a small non-profit university based in Karlsruhe. We have approximately 600 full-time students of which almost 50% are international (non-German), making it one of the highest international student ratios in Germany. As you may imagine, this brings a very unique atmosphere to the classroom here at Karls, diving into debates and discussions with critical thinking and perspectives from literally all over the world.  

There is a strong focus here of personal growth and co-creation at Karls too, and as someone who studied here myself, can definitely vouch that studying at the Karls really gives the chance to grow as a person, to broaden your hoizons and build a truly global network. Don't forget about the semester abroad too! The opportunites that I have been presented with here in and out of my studies, to travelling, working with companies, meeting people from everywhere! It definitely made the person who I am today and has boosted my career prospects onto a global level.  Find more information on our website or drop me an email, I'd be more than happy have a chat! 

In September I had the pleasure of attending a conference in Jena, a small student city based in Thuringia, East Germany. The conference gave me the opportunity to meet with other International Office coordinators and trainers to discuss the ERASMUS+ funded "Connect Project". Connect 2.0 is a program designed by a consortium of 8 universities, Karlshochschule being one of them, to help students prepare and reflect upon their semester abroad experience. As our exchange program is integrated, it's really important that the university has a strong foundation in place to support students during the before, during and after stages of their exchanges. This is where we in the International Office come in, as we are responsible for the semester abroad, we are also responsible for delivering and facilitating the face-to-face and online components of the project. It gives us a great chance to interact with students and make the semester abroad an even stronger, unforgettable experience- ensuring that all of our students, regardless of their intercultural knowledge, are equipped and prepared to go and undertake arguably the best semester of their lives! The photo is myself, Prof. Dr. Javier Montiel and Prof. Dr. Claus Ehrhardt facilitating a Q&A Panel for the project. 

For the first two weeks of August, I spent two weeks in Hamburg for a training course in how to facilitate and design workshops with a subsidiary of AFS (a non-profit intercultural exchange organization), Intercultur Gmbh. We were intensively working for the two weeks, learning various cultural theories and how to generate awareness of topics that are important in our global society, such as cross-cultural working, communication and collaboration- alongside working on methods to stimulate / build upon intercultural competence in a practial, seminar styled setting. Even as intensive and sometimes challenging as this course was, it was an unforgettable and enjoyable experience, giving me the tools and methods I needed to facilitate workshops and classes at Karlshochschule. I will directly implement these new insights into our Connect 2.0 project, the workshops and trainings that we hold to prepare Karls students to go on their integrated semester abroad. 

In addition, I had the opportunity to build my network in this field of training and meet similar-minded people in the same job roles as me from all over Europe.  

I came to Karlsruhe for the first time in February, 2014 whilst in my final semester studying Business Management & IT at Newman University, Birmingham. Looking back to "Emerald Forest" 2014, it really made a significant impact on my life. Not only did I meet friends for life during this incredibly short time (1 week) - I also experienced for one of the first times in my life what it meant to be immersed in an international learning environment. The way things are done at the Karls are pretty special, I can only say that in a biased way but it's really difficult to pinpoint what makes us so special.  Fast forward five years on, I moved here, I did a 2 year Master program and from 2017 to now I've worked in the International Office. In this job I'm primarily responsible for our incoming exchange students, ERASMUS+ funding; mobility between Karlshochschule and our 105+ current partner universities and making sure the Karls is prominent within the global higher education network.

12^th December 2019. ELECTION DAY.

In today’s headlines, it is being labelled as the “most important general election in a generation”. For me, I definitely see it as a vote not just for Britain and its future (also with Europe); but my future and the prospects of my generation and future generations which will be affected by the actions undertaken by the next Parliament. 

For Europe and the world observing the U.K, the spotlight is focused on what steps will be taken after this election over Brexit; a term which has even been officially added to the Oxford Dictionary. Although this is fundamentally one of the key influences in my ballot choice today, it’s also about the NHS, Education, Environmental policy and the foundation of democracy. In my opinion our political system has suffered heavily in its credibility and legitimacy over what feels like an eternity of stagnant debating, dirty politics and media-spins which has produced a country suffering from an ideological division.

The 2016 referendum empowered me to vote because of how the result would literally affect my personal situation, before this time I was, unfortunately like many others within my generation, disengaged in politics and didn’t understand why voting is so important. I think this time around, today’s election has really brought back the passion into politics and voting for many. The polarisation that we are witnessing within political ideologies on a scale bigger than just the U.K. and Europe (take the U.S.A for example), has sparked the call for people to stand up for what they believe in and actually go and vote, regardless of what or who it is they believe in. In a way I feel proud of standing up for what I believe in through casting my postal vote. Of course, the implications of this polarity have also encouraged perspectives towards othering “us vs. them” and facilitated strategies by parties to deliberately manipulate, misinform and sway decisions. Whatever the result is today, this is something which demands political reform and must be eliminated.

Having the legal right to vote and it’s importance is something we need to remember- you have a vote and a legal right to do so- it is something so easy to overlook or take for granted, there are cases all around the world where people have had to fight for this right.

If you aren’t sure what party to vote for- there are neutral platforms which can provide you with guidance, such as -> https://voteforpolicies.org.uk/.  

Stand up for what you believe in and vote!  I’ll be watching closely at the counting later.

Good luck Britain.

I don’t know about others, but growing up in Birmingham I never really experienced the feeling of being “European”, rather just the feeling of being British.  The concept of a single Europe was something not at all central to my values before or really the values of my social background.   I don’t see a polarized difference between Germany and Britain and the perception of Europe, however I would say that moving to Karlsruhe did change my perspective in this significantly. I’m not sure if it’s because of the 2016 Referendum or not- but Germany, or at least Karlsruhe in my opinion, is a strong example of how an integrated Europe can operate. This is something I really started to feel when moving here, there is no way to confirm that everybody here feels European and believes in the EU, but I would say that in mainland Europe there is a strong sense of normalness to people moving freely for work, studying or “just because they can”.  There are also lots of initiatives sponsored by the state to encourage integration such as subsidized language courses, policies to facilitate training for skills, recognize degrees and existing qualifications.

Karlsruhe as a city is extremely diverse for a town of its size. When specifically focusing on European citizens in Karlsruhe, there are people from all over the continent who move around for different reasons, it’s mainly work or study related as Baden-Württemberg is reputable for its business and technological strengths, alongside a good foundation of educational institutions and universities in the region. I feel welcomed here as a non-German in a very tolerant and accepting welcome culture.

Sometimes I think there is a detachment entwined within the British and European identity. There are several reasons for this; one of the reasons for a “social detachment” from Europe by some of the British population might be because of the geographical detachment between the British Isles and mainland Europe. For us Brits, to access Europe we either have to fly, take a boat or get the train via the Eurostar, it’s an interesting perspective to consider that normally, a lot of people from Britain might only go to Europe for a holiday, a short weekend break, or work-related visits. It is definitely more of a commitment, sometimes even effort and more expensive, for people to travel to mainland Europe (and vice-versa for those visiting the UK). Compared to other European countries, the number of British nationals living outside of the UK (excluding for retirement) to work, study is drastically low in comparison to other European nationals. Even just looking at the mobility figures in Higher Education in Britain; only 6.6% of UK undergraduate students study, work or volunteers overseas during their degree (with a national target of 13% by 2020) according to a report taken from Universities UK International -> full case report here. Compared to an increasing 25% in Germany (with a national target of 50% by 2020). The big shame here is there are a lot of students who aren’t aware of how accessible it can be to engage in an abroad mobility via higher education. It could be life changing and it might even be the easiest time to experience living abroad- with a safety net of two universities and financial aid via ERASMUS+ if applicable.  According to the same study, those who go abroad within their degree are 7% higher average wage earners, six months after graduation. There are tons of opportunities waiting to be grabbed, sometimes I think me ending up in Germany was down to chance- I was in the right place, at the right time with the mindset to seize the opportunity that had been placed before me (my first mobility to Germany was partly funded via the ERASMUS+ network). I think this because it was never really advertised as a possibility beforehand, I genuinely thought you had to have lots of money behind you to do it.

Back to the topic of identity, the size of Britain and the fact that it is geographically not connected to another landmass I think impacts how people think about the rest of the world around them. When being in mainland Europe, it’s possible for you to take a train to anywhere else in Europe, Moscow, or even Beijing.  From Britain, regardless of where you go, a border must be crossed with a different process than just jumping in your car (or the train) and ending up in another country.  In my opinion this has an impact on Britain and how identifiable it can be, when thinking of Europe. This “separation” may also affect the impact of cross-cultural events or cooperative projects taking place between Britain other European countries.

A nice comparison to this, would be how the United Kingdom works with England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland (and Ireland) when it comes to mobility and freedom of movement between borders, it would be borderless to go from England to Wales, or Scotland for a day, a weekend or a trip. This is how it feels when I’m in Germany and the rest of Europe- sometimes I’ve cycled to France, gone to Switzerland for the day, taken a bus to Italy, this year I even took a bus to Slovakia via the Czech Republic.

I’ve decided at this crucial point in both British and European history to dedicate some of my next few ambassador posts about the metaphorical elephant in the room called Brexit. I’ve had several people approach me since I’ve started posting as the UK Karls ambassador, asking me why I haven’t already previously. So this will be officially the first post of three, discussing the in’s and out’s and what it’s like living in Germany since day one.

I don’t think voicing political opinion on social media is relevant as it’s not only a controversial instrument that can be utilized (as I’m sure we’ve all seen and experienced over the last 5 years) but also because it’s my view, and a subjective one at that. I have one perspective on the matter where there are hundreds of others that also should be considered when discussing the current political situation of Britain and its past, present and potential future relationship to the EU. That’s why I’m going to rather discuss the potential implications of Brexit, not from a political or social standpoint, but instead from the point of how it will directly affect me and my position as a British national living, working (and integrating) within mainland Europe and Germany.

I do feel that it’s incredibly important, however, to openly discuss the insights into my experiences as a Brit in Germany because I strongly believe Brexit should not discourage anyone from moving to Germany (or anywhere in Europe) to study, work and live. It could be, as I’ve always said, the best decision you’ll ever make.  This is why I plan on diving into what it’s been like for me over an almost five-year period of living outside of the UK. Importantly, I want to address how studying in Karlsruhe full-time has had an impact on my perspectives towards certain things and in-turn, opened my eyes to an array of new opportunities (and possibilities).

So first and foremost, back to the literal implications. I know that for a lot of British students there is the underlying first question that springs to mind when even considering the thought of moving outside of the UK to study: “what will happen after Brexit?”.

Right now, there is no way (in my opinion, of course) that I, or anyone can give you a clear answer based on the last three and a half years of political decisions and advancements with the entire process. We can maybe have more of an insight after the December 12^thsnap election which direction the UK will take, but after the years of delay and the historically huge, volatile stalemate in Parliament, we can still keep our options open into what actually will happen.

As it stands now, there are clear procedures in place from the side of the German government that will allow British nationals in Germany to “Keep Calm and Carry On” as usual. As it stands, there will be a three-month period where your right to live, work and study in Germany remains unchanged, with a potential six-month extension, easily giving you the opportunity to make an appointment with the local Ausländerbehörde (the local office for migration and asylum) and apply for a residence permit in Germany.

The conditions of this are yet to be determined regarding what documents and requirements you will need to get this approved as there is no universal regulation for all third-country nationals applying for visas and residence permits in Germany. There are different agreements with several countries that are established on a country-to-country basis.

Regarding the ERASMUS+ network, it is currently projected that funding will be secured until the end of 2020, providing that there is an exit on the basis of an agreed deal. This means that if you were looking to come to Germany on a semester abroad under an ERAMSUS mobility, you would still be eligible for financial support and there are even discussions for an extension for this period. The participation of the UK in ERASMUS after 2020 is not yet clear, though, and must still be established / agreed upon. I can now only assume that an agreement will be made between the UK and the EU to outline the specific requirements and processes, in the case of both a deal and no-deal Brexit.

What’s important to note is that I can say with confidence that I won’t need to pack my bags and leave immediately, nor will any other British national who is living in Germany. I have to say that from my experience here, there is in no way an unwelcoming or unfriendly attitude since the 2016 referendum; quite the contrary in fact. I have always felt very welcome here in Germany and have no-doubt that won’t change because of Brexit. I would say there is some level of sadness and maybe even sorrow in Germany (and Europe) about Brexit, as Britain does have a strong and positive role within the European Union as a founding country, but it’s never something that has been subject to negative or discriminatory behaviour towards me personally.

If you want more specific information on the status and rights of British nationals post-Brexit, you can check out the official website of BMI (Federal Ministry of Interior, Building and Community) and the official UK Government page on Living in Germany.

If you want more information on the status of ERASMUS+ and the UK’s participation in the mobility network- you can find more information here.

More of this to come in more posts! Next time I’ll be talking about values and European identity.

One of the Karlsruhe's small claims to fame is it's summer climate. We live in the warmest region in Germany (South-West), and this week we have a heatwave with highs of 38 degrees. Who would of thought that places in Germany are often hotter than Spain and Greece?! There's nothing better than finishing work on a long Tuesday and going to BBQ with a couple of beers after; and that's exactly what we do here often. The great thing about living in Karlsruhe is we can really make the most of the natural surroundings in the city (and there really is alot). Going to the park, swimming in the river,  or going to one of the many quarry lakes dotted around the outskirts, or simply doing a BBQ and having some beers in the park around the corner from Karls. Quality of life here is pretty high I would say, especially for what you pay. It really was one of the impressions I had of Karlsruhe when I first visited, it was also one of the things that made me love Karlsruhe specifically. As far as first impressions go, its second to none. (The picture is of me and Alex being the professional Grillmeisters of the evening)

Happy May Day everybody! 
The 1st May in Germany is always a public holiday, this means no work; giving us a chance to indulge in the German tradition of "hiking". I say "hiking" because although we walked over 20km on Wednesday, the day is more focused on drinking and listening to German schlager/ folk music. The atmosphere is always happy and we definitely had a great time. There were 8 of us in total from 6 different countries. The 3 Germans amongst us did a great job in showing us how May Day is traditionally celebrated that's for sure.

As it was my first ever German hiking experience I can only recommend it, 30 minutes via tram from Karlsruhe and you're at the neck of the Black Forest. With 25 degree plus weather it's paradise! Prost! 

I came to Karlsruhe for the first time in February, 2014 whilst in my final semester studying Business Management & IT at Newman University, Birmingham. Looking back to "Emerald Forest" 2014, it really made a significant impact on my life. Not only did I meet friends for life during this incredibly short time (1 week) - I also experienced for one of the first times in my life what it meant to be immersed in an international learning environment. The way things are done at the Karls are pretty special, I can only say that in a biased way but it's really difficult to pinpoint what makes us so special.  Fast forward five years on, I moved here, I did a 2 year Master program and from 2017 to now I've worked in the International Office. In this job I'm primarily responsible for our incoming exchange students, ERASMUS+ funding; mobility between Karlshochschule and our 105+ current partner universities and making sure the Karls is prominent within the global higher education network.