Inhalt

Abstract:

Germany’s economy offers attractive career paths for international graduates, yet only around 40 % of non-German students manage a direct labour-market entry after graduation despite 70 % intending to stay. Employability and Working in Germany” therefore equips students (primarily bachelor students in their semesters 3–5) with the labour-market knowledge, intercultural awareness and application skills required for a successful transition. Drawing on established employability frameworks, the course combines narrated-slide videos and H5P interactions with a practice-oriented project in which participants build a full German-style application portfolio.

Eight sequential modules (75 h, 2 SWS, 2.5 ECTS) cover (1) orientation, (2) the German labour market, (3) personal strengths, (4) application procedures, (5) workplace culture & soft skills, (6) networking, (7) motivation & resilience, and (8) a capstone portfolio project.

Continuous self-tests, peer-feedback forums and tutor guidance foster reflection and community. On completion, students can analyze market trends, craft targeted application documents and articulate a personalized career strategy—thus significantly improving their employability in Germany.

Gliederung:

• Module 0: Course Logistics – 2 hours – Course roadmap, digital learning tools, expectations
• Module 1: Introduction to Employability – 8 hours – Course roadmap, digital learning tools, expectations
• Module 2: The German Labour Market – 8 hours – Structural features, trend analysis, opportunity identification, implications for job search
• Module 3: Personal Skills and Competencies – 8 hours – Self-assessment instruments, value proposition, personal brand, goal setting
• Module 4: Components of the Application Process – 8 hours – CV and cover-letter standards, interview preparation
• Module 5: Workplace Culture and Skills – 8 hours – Communication norms, teamwork, work culture and ethics
• Module 6: Networking and Professional Development – 8 hours – Online/offline networking, expanding professional opportunities, lifelong learning
• Module 7: Motivation and Dealing with Challenges – 8 hours – Self-motivation, resilience, overcoming employment barriers
• Module 8: Application Portfolio & Reflective Report – 25 hours – Produce application portfolio and reflective report

Total workload: 75 hours (≈ 2 SWS / 2.5 ECTS) – Summative multiple-choice tests follow Modules 2–6.

Detaillierter Inhalt:

Module 0 – Course Logistics
Interactive H5P unit introduces objectives, media formats and assessment scheme. Short video welcomes learners; narrated slides explain Moodle navigation and time budgeting.

Module 1 – Introduction to Employability
Defining the employability concept and understanding essential components of employability, assessing cultural perspectives on career readiness, analyzing various stakeholder influences on employability.

Module 2 – The German Labour Market
Exploring structural features, skill shortages and megatrends such as digitalization and sustainability. Interpreting labour-market trends and exploring opportunities aligned to different forms of employment.

Module 3 – Personal Skills and Competencies
Guided self-assessment (incl. CareerEDGE model, personal SWOT analysis, TOWS model) supporting the creation of an individual “value proposition”. Learners cultivate their professional identity through personal branding and strengthen employability through strategic goal setting and career planning.

Module 4 – Components of the Application Process
Step-by-step tutorials to understand the fundamentals of the German application process: Crafting a CV that meets German labour market standards, writing a cover letter that communicates value to employers, and preparing for a job interview in Germany.

Module 5 – Workplace Culture and Skills
Exploring the culture and characteristics of the German workplace, understanding the function of communication in a professional environment, working effectively in teams, and mastering workplace attitudes to shape career success.

Module 6 – Networking & Career Development
Developing meaningful connections through in-person networking and expanding professional opportunities through online networking. Includes additional material: Enhancing employability through strategic career development.

Module 7 – Motivation and Dealing with Challenges
Keeping up strong motivation through periods of uncertainty and rejection, building up resilience & adaptability to overcome employment barriers and job search challenges.

Module 8 – Application Portfolio & Reflective Report
Producing an application portfolio and reflective report brings everything learned so far together.

Lern-/Qualifikationsziele:

Knowledge & Understanding

• German labour-market analysis: Explain structural features, skill shortages and megatrends.
• Application standards: Apply German conventions to CVs, cover letters and digital profiles.
• Workplace culture: Evaluate communication norms, teamwork expectations and ethical standards.
• Networking theory: Design strategies for building and sustaining professional networks.

Cognitive & Practical Skills

• Critically match personal competencies to market needs and articulate a clear value proposition.
• Conduct guided self-assessments supporting the creation of an individual “value proposition”.
• Explore opportunities aligned to different forms of employment.

Social & Intercultural Skills

• Exploring the culture and characteristics of the German workplace.
• Adapt interaction styles to multicultural teams; give and receive constructive feedback.
• Navigate hierarchical and egalitarian settings while maintaining professional credibility.

Personal & Affective Outcomes

• Demonstrate resilience and self-motivation when encountering job-search obstacles.
• Exhibit reflective practice by setting developmental goals and monitoring progress.
• Display ethical awareness and responsible decision-making in workplace scenarios.

By achieving these objectives, participants become proactive, culturally competent candidates who can convincingly position themselves in the German employment landscape.

Lehrveranstaltungstyp:

Kurs

Interaktionsformen mit Betreuer/in:

E-Mail, Übungsaufgaben für Selbstlernbetrieb

Interaktionsformen mit Mitlernenden:

Forum

Kursdemo:

zur Kursdemo

Nutzung

Kurs ist konzipiert für:

The course is aimed at international bachelor students (semesters 3–5) at Bavarian universities of applied sciences who are enrolled in English-taught programmes that include a compulsory internship. It is already scheduled as an elective or preparatory module in the following curricula:

• OTH Regensburg – International Computer Science (B.Sc.)
• TH Rosenheim – E-Commerce (B.A.), International Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.), International Wood Technology (B.Eng.)
• HS Landshut – International Business (B.A.), Sustainable Industrial Operations and Business (B.Eng.)
• TH Augsburg – International Information Systems (B.Sc.)
• TH Ingolstadt – Autonomous Vehicle Engineering (B.Eng.)
• OTH Amberg-Weiden – International Business (B.A.)
• Hochschule Hof – Computer Science (International) (B.Sc.)
• Hochschule Kempten – International Management (B.A.)
• TH Nürnberg – Mechanical Engineering (B.Eng.)
• TH Würzburg-Schweinfurt – Mechatronics (B.Eng.)

Because the competences addressed (labour-market literacy, application skills, intercultural soft skills) are transferable, the course is also suitable as an optional key-competence module for other English-taught STEM or business programmes enrolling international students.

Formale Voraussetzungen:

• Current enrolment at a vhb member institution (matriculation number required when registering in the vhb portal).
• For ECTS recognition, students must
  a) compile a complete application portfolio (CV, cover letter),
  b) submit a reflective report on their learning journey together with
  c) an appendix containing the job advertisement they geared their application portfolio towards and a documentation to show how they applied all the frameworks and tools introduced throughout the course.
  Students must achieve a minimum pass grade determined by their home university’s examination regulations for ECTS recognition.
• There are no fees for students of the vhb-member universities; the course is funded as a CLASSIC vhb offering.

Erforderliche Vorkenntnisse:

• Language: English at CEFR B2 level for reading, writing and discussion; German at minimum CEFR B1 for understanding vacancy notices and crafting German-style application documents.
• Academic standing: At least two completed semesters in a bachelor programme so that students can relate course tasks to their discipline-specific profile.
• Digital literacy: Ability to navigate a Moodle LMS, use web-based collaboration tools and standard office software (word-processing, PDF creation).
• Mind-set: Motivation to pursue an internship or first job in Germany and willingness to engage in peer feedback.

Hinweise zur Nutzung:

This English-language online course targets international students at Bavarian universities, ideally in their bachelor semesters 3-5 before the mandatory internship. Recommended prerequisites: basic English and German (CEFR B1) and an interest in career planning in Germany. Workload: 75 hours. Assessment: portfolio (application folder). Course launches 1 Oct (winter term) and 15 Mar (summer term).

Kursumsetzung (verwendete Medien):

Didactics: short narrated slide videos, expert interviews, interactive H5P books/quizzes, self-tests, forum discussions, peer feedback. Media: MP4 video, H5P (Interactive Book, Quiz, Drag & Drop), Moodle tasks and tests. Technology: hosted on OTH Moodle; videos served via HTML5 streaming. All materials WCAG-conform (captions, transcripts, alt texts).

Erforderliche Technik:

-

Nutzungsentgelte:

für andere Personen als (reguläre) Studenten der vhb Trägerhochschulen nach Maßgabe der Benutzungs- und Entgeltordnung der vhb

Rechte hinsichtlich des Kursmaterials:

-

Verantwortlich

Anbieterhochschule:

OTH Regensburg

Anbieter:

Prof. Dr. Markus Westner

Autoren:

Markus Westner

Julia Dittrich

Betreuer:

Prof. Dr. Markus Westner

Prüfung

Art der Prüfung:

Studienarbeit

Bemerkung:

Further information on the exam & exam registration can be found in the course.

Prüfer:

Prof. Dr.  Markus Westner

Prüfungsanmeldung erforderlich:

ja

Anmeldeverfahren:

Die Anmeldung zur Prüfung erfolgt über das vhb-Portal.

Prüfungsanmeldefrist:

01.10.2025 00:00 Uhr bis 31.12.2025 23:59 Uhr

Prüfungsabmeldefrist:

01.10.2025 00:00 Uhr bis 31.12.2025 23:59 Uhr

Kapazität:

–

Prüfungsdatum:

–

Prüfungszeitraum:

–

Prüfungsdauer:

–

Prüfungsort:

–

Zuständiges Prüfungsamt:

Implementation: OTH R & TH RO / Recognition: students' home university

Zugelassene Hilfsmittel:

–

Formale Voraussetzungen für die Prüfungsteilnahme:

–

Inhaltliche Voraussetzungen für die Prüfungsteilnahme:

–

Zertifikat:

Ja (graded certificate)

Anerkennung:

Students outside the consortium can attend the course, but must clarify the recognition in their degree program independently at their home university.