Develop International Competencies with the Erasmus+ Programme

Job shadowing as part of the Erasmus programme is a form of professional development and learning through observation. It enables  participants to spend time in the workplace of an experienced colleague in order to expand their knowledge and skills.

Key elements are:

• learning in the workplace in the everyday environment of the host
• exchange of best practices
• individually tailored to the needs of the participants

A ‘Staff Week’ is an organised period, typically one week, during which universities or other educational institutions offer a programme for the exchange of knowledge and ideas on specific topics.

An overview of Erasmus Staff Week opportunities can be found in the iMOTION database.

Language courses for university staff are offered by many institutions abroad. The FHP particularly encourages participation in English language courses in English-speaking countries.

You can find a selection of language courses in the iMOTION database. Please feel free to contact the International Office directly for advice on suitable courses.

Academic staff at FHP can apply for Erasmus+ funding to participate in curriculum development at universities or educational institutions abroad, take part in workshops and seminars, or conduct a study visit.

You will receive a daily flat rate per day of stay, depending on the country. The flat rates are set by the Erasmus+ programme as follows:

The travel costs are determined depending on real distances between the place of departure and the place of destination of the stay using a Europe-wide standardised calculation tool of the EU commission. If you travel all or part of the distance to your place of stay by sustainable means of transport, you may receive an additional supplement (top-up) on your travel allowance (environmentally friendly travel).

With the Erasmus+ programme, the European Union aims to make a significant contribution to greater equality of opportunity.

Real cost applications help to offset additional costs incurred abroad. The following additional funding options are available:

• University staff with a disability or chronic illness can receive up to €15,000 per person for staff mobility to cover, for example, assistance, increased accommodation and travel costs. Additional funds can also be applied for to cover preparatory travel.
• University staff who go abroad with a child or children can receive a subsidy for childcare and accommodation costs for the children in addition to travel costs.

An overview of the numerous support options can be found on the Erasmus+ page on additional financial support for participants with fewer opportunities.

Organise your desired project. Register for a consultation at the International Office. Discuss the appropriate activity with your supervisors and your Services at FHP. Contact the respective institutions to discuss the programme or register for a staff week or language course.

The information in the internal application is used to calculate the funding. The Mobility Agreement is the letter of motivation. Please describe your plans in detail in this letter.

The following criteria play a role in the selection process and should be addressed in your application documents:

• Professional relevance of the stay
• Strategic relevance for the university or your own field of work and, if applicable, purpose beyond the stay abroad (sustainability of the activity)
• For language courses: professional necessity in the context of your work at the FHP

• Mobility Agreement STT (PDF, 374.12 KB)
• Internal application form STA / STT (PDF, 325.57 KB)

The International Office will inform you of the amount of funding and send you a grant agreement. You can now begin organising your stay. You must complete the following steps:

• Submit your business trip application to the Human Resources Department (fortbildung@fh-potsdam.de). As the team responsible for the budget, the International Office will sign the agreement. The signature of your supervisor is also required.
• Register for language courses and staff weeks yourself by this point at the latest. You are also responsible for booking your own transport and accommodation.
• Have the complete Mobility Agreement signed by the host institution.
• Submit receipts for sustainable travel to the International Office.

If necessary, take out additional insurance for the period abroad. The Erasmus+ mobility grant does not include any insurance cover. Within the framework of the confirmed business trip with Erasmus funding, only the statutory accident insurance for full-time employees at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam also applies abroad. We therefore recommend taking out international health insurance, liability insurance for abroad and, if necessary, travel insurance and/or life insurance.

Have the Confirmation of Stay signed by the host institution and send it by email to the International Office.
If necessary, collect invoices, tickets, etc. for your income tax return, in which you can declare the excess mobility allowance from the lump sums as income or declare additional costs.

• Letter of Confirmation STT (PDF, 76.23 KB)

After your stay abroad, you must complete the following steps:

• Fill out the EU Survey (online)
• Write a summary and send it to the International Office
• If applicable, submit proof of sustainable travel to the International Office

Submission deadline: 6 weeks after the end date. The International Office is entitled to reclaim some or all of the Erasmus grant if you do not provide the necessary documents or do not provide them on time.

Furthermore, it is not necessary to submit receipts for the business trip. If necessary, you can declare the excess mobility grant as income on your income tax return or declare additional costs.