Centre for inter-faculty learning(ZfL)
The Centre for Inter-Faculty Learning (ZfL) is a central body of the HSM that brings together the established foreign language course offers, soft skills and the International School.




The development of foreign language knowledge increases students' opportunities within the labour market and is an important requirement in the context of international studies. Accordingly, the HSM offers both curricular and independent language courses based on the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Soft skills are important competences and aptitudes that go beyond specialised technical education and are of great importance in various areas of life, especially in professional life. Self-competence, social competence, methodological competence and multimedia competence increase adaptability in professional life and improve career opportunities. At HSM, these courses are therefore an integral part of the curriculum in the Bachelor's degree programmes. The courses are currently offered in E-learning or Blended-Learning-Format.
The ‘International School’ bundles the comprehensive specialised and interdisciplinary courses for exchange students. Each semester there are more than 20 English-language courses available to choose from, allowing students to create their own individual study programme. A planned recognition through the respective home university should always be discussed with the home university beforehand.
The ZfL is a member of the Language Centres, Language Teaching Institutes and Foreign Language Institutes. It responds to the dynamically changing world with its respective challenges and the constantly developing services and the underlying framework.
Foreign language programmes
The ZfL currently offers courses in German as a foreign language, English and Spanish.
The following conditions apply to the language courses:
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Participation is free of charges.
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The minimum number of participants per course is 5 students, the maximum number of participants varies depending on the course level.
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The courses are based on the semester periods (approx. 15 weeks per semester) and comprise 60 hours (usually 2x 2 hours per week).
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The courses build up on each other: A1.1, A1.2, A2.1, A2.2, B1.1, B1.2, B2.1, B2.2 and C1.
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The courses are concluded with a final examination. Depending on their status, credits can be recognised for successfully completed courses (mainly applies to exchange students). Otherwise, certificates of attendance can be applied for.
Please note: The final course examinations are not standardised examinations that are recognised, for example, for university admission.
Soft Skills Programmes
The current offerings in the area of key qualifications include courses on the topics of ‘’Courtesy & Etiquette‘’, ‘’International Etiquette‘’, ‘’Rhetoric‘’, ‘’Conflict Management‘’, ‘’Motivation & Self-Management‘’, ‘’Logical Argumentation‘’, ‘’User Experience Design‘’ and ‘’Diversity Management‘’.
You can find up-to-date information on the courses available to you on Stud.IP. You can also register for the courses there.
Please note: The final course examinations are not standardised examinations that are recognised, for example, for university admission.
Please refer to your study regulations for information on the scheduling of the soft skills in your degree programme. Specific semesters are recommended for taking courses.
You should also consider the number of courses to be taken as stipulated in your study regulations. These courses usually comprise 2 SWS or 2.5 CP. For example, if your curriculum includes 5 CP for SK, you must take two SK courses.
For courses offered in e-learning format, you can organise the course flexibly over the course of the semester. For courses in blended format, in addition to the e-learning part, there are one or more face-to-face events that are offered in blocks. These face-to-face events usually take place at the weekend.
Each course concludes with a written examination (60 minutes). The ‘Rhetoric’ course is an exception. Here you will write several short speeches, which will be assessed.
Mitarbeitende⁴
Mitarbeitende | Verantwortlichkeiten |
Dr. Paul Voerkel |
Leitung ZfL, Vernetzung |
Ramona Alina Petschauer |
Deutsch als Fremdsprache, TestDaf, International School |
Dr. Anita Toronyi |
Deutsch als Fremdsprache, Englisch |
Jesús Eduardo Romero |
Deutsch als Fremdsprache, TestDaf; Ansprechpartner AKS |
Matthias Rickess |
Schlüsselqualifikationen |
Die Mitarbeitenden des ZfL können Sie über das jeweils hinterlegte Kontaktformular Kontaktieren
Lehrbeauftragte im Sprachbereich Deutsch:
Mitarbeitende |
Manuela Renz |
Markus Renz |
Qi Wang |
Rita Bagdchi |
Uta Pesavento |
Victoria Bernetiere |
Xiangyi Li |
Kontakt⁵
Am ZfL freuen wir uns auf die Begegnung und den Austausch mit Ihnen.
Wenn Sie Fragen zu konkreten Themen haben, kontaktieren Sie bitte die jeweils zuständige Person Mitarbeitende
Für sonstige Anfragen an das ZfL nutzen Sie bitte das Kontaktformular.