All MemBioMed students shall receive a welcome package at each Partner Institution with the following information:
- MemBioMed Handbook: providing an overview of the Master Programme (e.g., mobility, meaning of the joint degree, etc.) including syllabuses; information on the required internships; practical information (e.g., regarding fees, visa, accommodation, email set up, student/ staff ID cards), contact information for various services (e.g., MemBioMed Coordination Office), an overview of all lectures, contact information on lecturers and researchers, etc.
- Welcome Brochure: providing information on orientation activities for international students (e.g., campus tours) and other relevant information specific to the Partner Institution where students are hosted.
In the beginning of each semester, each Full Partner University hosting MemBioMed students will organize, in collaboration with the local International Relations Office and the MemBioMed Coordination Office (MCO), an Integration Week (semester 1) and Kick-off Days (semester 2 and 3) in order to offer orientation to the students and to provide them with information about language courses, housing, and other practicalities. This information will be delivered in the form of oral presentations and will be backed up with the Welcome Package. Videoconferencing may also be used in order to introduce all Local Academic Coordinators to the students.
Students will haveaccess to facilities at each of the universities they are enrolled in. This includes free of charge access to university libraries from the consortium universities, local language courses and sport facilities.
Events
Three orientation events are strategically scheduled during the two-year programme: The first of these events occurs before the first semester, specifically during an integration week for incoming students in early September. The second event takes place at the beginning of the second semester, in the form of a kick-off day (end of February/beginning of March) for on boarding at UniGe. The third event takes place between semesters 2 and 3 during the summer school (late August, early September). At the end of their programme students will attend part of the summer school and the integration week of the precedent cohorts. In this way, we ensure bonding and exchange between the different cohorts.
- Integration week
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This event will take place during the first week of September as the first opportunity of bringing physically together the entire cohort of students. It will be organized by UniCA, which is in charge of the first semester and is also the coordinator of the programme.
A variety of activities will be organised in the spirit of celebrating the importance of international, European and cultural diversity. The programme coordinator officer advised by the Welcome Center and UniCA’s International Office will disseminate information for entering students including solving administrative matters (bank account, housing, registration, emergency contacts…). The students will also meet the consortium partners, researchers and administrative staff, and receive courses on fundamental concepts required to successfully tackle the master programme.
Lecturers from all partner institutions will participate in these courses. Important skills will be acquired during this week including lab safety rules and soft skills essentials to start a Master programme (bibliographic research, PowerPoint presentation, speaking in public…). Students will be invited to perform technical visits of UniCA campus and research and facilities centers on site. Also, a Gender Agenda and discussions on inclusion, diversity and equity will be included on the week schedule. Finally, social interaction will be promoted in the form of city tours, cultural visits or typical dinners. Second-year students and graduates from previous intakes (alumni panel) will be invited to meet the new students for exchange and mentoring. This will be an opportunity for them and the consortium to get feedback on the programme, careers, internships and the working world. A social evening will be organized to favor informal discussions between students. - Kick-day
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This event is designed to help students ensure efficient on boarding at UniGe. This kick-off day will take place at the end of February/beginning of March between semester 1 and 2. Local academic and administrative coordinators of UniGe will be present, as well as participating lecturers, researchers and other administrative staff from UniGe. They will introduce students to the various resources available at UniGe, both academic (libraries, research activities, etc.) and in terms of student life (support services, clubs, events, etc.). This kick-off day will provide an opportunity to review the first semester and to clarify the expectations for the second semester. It should create a favorable environment in which students can be more successful both academically and personally.
- Summer school
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A thematic school will be held between semester 2 and 3. Thematic schools are short intensive programmes and are an integrative part of the study programme as well as compulsory element of the curriculum. The thematic school covers more in-depth a selected theme which will varie from year to year. This summer school, organized by the three partner universities, will take place in Osnabrück and includes a series of seminars and workshops on a chosen topic in relation to the programme. The summer school will be integrated into an annually organized scientific symposium on Membrane Biology in Osnabrück, hosted by either the SFB 1557 (Functional plasticity encoded in cellular membrane networks) or the research training group RTG 2900 (nanomaterials@biomembranes). During these conferences, 15-20 internationally renowned leaders in the field of membrane biology present their current research each year. Students will attend the scientific presentations, participate in “meet the speakers” sessions and will present their work for the research internships in poster sessions.
Lecturers and other researchers from Nice and Genoa will give talkst during the summer school. The summer school will also include activities with academic and administrative staff at UOS to ensure efficient onboarding for semester 3. Projects for the research project of the upcoming semester will be presented and a speed dating internship session will be organised enabling interaction between students and representatives of host institutions. A company event will also be offered during the thematic school to connect students with the private sector research community. Depending on the theme of the summer school, specific companies will be invited in person or through a videoconference. As some students in biology are also heading for careers in business and venture capital, we will invite course leaders in this field, as well as experts, to broaden the students' scope beyond research in biology. The summer school will include activities with academic and administrative staff at UOS to ensure efficient on boarding for semester 3.