From June 15 to 23, 2026, Hof University hosted a special international gathering: As part of the International Healthcare Summer School, project director Prof. Dr. Daniel Werner and the organizers Inês Estrada (Graduate School) and Ralloù Moutafis (Faculty of Interdisciplinary and Innovative Sciences – INWISS) welcomed twelve students and four professors from the Colombian partner universities, Universidad de La Sabana and Fundación Universitaria Juan N. Corpas, to Hof.
The summer school, funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), offered the guests a comprehensive insight into the German health and social care system as well as into studies, research, and professional practice at Hof University of Applied Sciences. Specialized lectures on topics such as the German welfare state, the healthcare system, digitalization in nursing, caregiver burnout, and regional care structures were supplemented by workshops and project work. At the same time, the focus was on intercultural exchange: German and Colombian participants worked together on issues related to the international healthcare system and shared their experiences.
Learning Beyond the Lecture Hall
A varied program also awaited the guests outside the lecture hall. Excursions included visits to the university’s Kronach campus and Rosenberg Fortress, the Skills Lab in Bamberg, and Nuremberg. Field visits to Diakonie Hochfranken and Naila Hospital provided fascinating insights into healthcare in the region. Campus tours, group dinners, and cultural activities rounded out the week and offered numerous opportunities to make new connections and forge international friendships.
Lasting Connections and New Perspectives
The Summer School concluded with presentations of the project work and a joint farewell dinner. For all participants, the week was marked by professional exchange, new perspectives, and internationalization in action. The contacts and connections formed during the Summer School serve as a springboard for further joint activities between the partner universities and for sustaining these collaborations.
The two organizers drew a very positive conclusion:
“A particularly positive aspect of the Summer School was that we were also able to learn from our guests’ perspectives, and that some Colombian and German students were inspired by the exchange to experience each other’s realities through a semester abroad or an internship. It was impressive to see how passionate the participants were and how they embraced a Summer School full of new experiences, but also challenges.”
Ralloù Moutafis & Inês Estrada
And the participants themselves were also full of praise:
“It was particularly meaningful for me to gain a deeper understanding of how healthcare is organized outside my own country. Through lectures on the German healthcare system, digitalization, elder care, the workload of healthcare workers, and intercultural competence, I was able to compare different approaches to healthcare and reflect on their impact on patients and on society. Although the language was my biggest challenge, it also became an opportunity to grow, to network with German students and faculty, and to gain a broader perspective on global health and international cooperation.”
Lenny Santiago Forero Casallas, Medical Program, Fundación Universitaria Juan N. Corpas, Colombia
“What I appreciated most about this summer school was the successful combination of academic learning and cultural exchange. It allowed me to grow both professionally and personally in an international environment.”
Luna Manuela Contreras Pedraza, Physical Therapy Program
Photo: Hof University of Applied Sciences;
