Do I want to study? And if so - what? These and similar questions were answered by some school leavers on a Voluntary Scientific Year (FWJ) at the University of Oldenburg. A group of six volunteers presented their final theses, all in the spirit of the World Cup.
Hustle and bustle in building 16A on the Wechloy campus: six FWJ graduates are about to present their final theses to review the course of their Voluntary Scientific Year in front of those responsible. The volunteers are just finishing their instructive time in science and research at the university. "The volunteers" are Alaa Akar, Johanna Cordes and Friederike Hasselmann from the Department for Human Medicine, Finjas Künnemann from the Department of Health Services Research and Rieke Wahlen from the Institute of Biology and Environmental Sciences. They also include Saeed Alsabbagh from the Department of Economics and Law. Saeed and Alaa are both graduates of the orientation year for refugees.
Getting to know science
Since 2015, the University of Oldenburg has offered the opportunity to complete a <link fwj/>Freiwilliges Wissenschaftliches Jahr (FWJ)</link> as part of the Federal Volunteer Service. The FWJ is primarily aimed at high school graduates who would like to gain insights into research and science. Volunteers usually spend twelve months familiarising themselves with scientific topics and taking on supporting tasks in research and administration. Another component of the FWJ are the so-called mandatory educational days: they are designed to familiarise students with topics from academic work and research practice, to attend lectures and seminars, to take advantage of offers from the student advisory service and to get to know different areas of the university. The university pays 400 euros a month in pocket money during the FWJ, and each volunteer also receives a work certificate at the end.
Positive conclusion
The six FWJ graduates were given a specific task for the final event. In the spirit of the World Cup, they were asked to reflect on their time in the FWJ as a football match. This involved questions such as: Who played in my team? Did I have opponents? Which goals did I score and/or concede? What strategy did I follow? Who cheered me on from the outside? The results varied, but once again showed that the FWJ - in contrast to German football - is very satisfying overall. The volunteers gained an intensive insight into the scientific projects in healthcare research, the work of university clinics, economics, Law and environmental sciences. Rieke Wahlen, for example, was part of Prof. Dr Victoria Burke's four-person junior research group, which is researching the degradation and transport behaviour of various veterinary drugs in soil and groundwater. Rieke particularly enjoyed the practical work: "I was allowed to work in the laboratory, carry out rapid tests or take samples at the lysimeter - a facility near the university that we used to sample soil leachate," explains Rieke.
Rieke and the other FWJ students presented their work with lectures and scientific posters. They were joined by Prof Dr Hans Gerd Nothwang, Dean of School V - School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Nina Löchte, Head of the Department for the Promotion of Young Scientists, colleagues from the working groups and Michael Kuck, AWO, who, alongside Nadine Brandt, the FWJ's university coordinator, provided educational support for the volunteers. It quickly became clear to the guests that the six had visibly gained experience and confidence at the university.
Goal in sight
All six are now certain that they want to study and are currently waiting for their university places to be confirmed. Whether environmental sciences, veterinary medicine, agricultural sciences or medicine - the FWJ was a good orientation aid for all of them, making their choice easier. Perhaps it will be a very personal summer fairytale 2018 for them at the University of Oldenburg.
