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University of Haifa

Israel 2018/2019 Partner universities

Personal data
Mobility type:
study

Faculty at MU:
Faculty of Education

Field of study:
Social Education

Level of study during period of placement:
Master

Language used:
English

Summer/winter school?:
no

Period of studies:
spring 2019

Period of placement (from-to):
2019-02-17 - 2019-05-30

Number of months:
3.00

Activities before my departure abroad
Where can information be found about courses taught at the foreign school?:
https://uhaifa.org/
more information were provided by CZS at MU (in their list of Partnership universities)
https://czs.muni.cz/cs/student-mu/studijni-pobyty/partnerske-univerzity/university-of-haifa

Which documents were needed for acceptance at the foreign university?:
Trasncript in English
Language Proficiency (B2 level)
Health Declaration
Motivation Letter
Reccomendation Letters (2 of them)
Signing formulars for Dormitories
Insurance Policy

How far ahead did you have to organise your acceptance?:
5 months

Did you need a visa?:
yes

Documents and materials needed for a visa:
Letter (document) of Acceptance by host university
Application for visa

Length of wait for visa:
2 weeks

Fee for the visa:
1000 CZK

Studies
Did you have a Learning Agreement signed before your departure?:
yes

If not, why not?:

Before your departure did you know how your courses would be recognised by your home faculty?:
yes

During your stay did you change your Learning Agreement?:
yes

When and how did course registration take place? Are there any restrictions? Possibilities of making changes?:
First week of studies is free to visit everything that catches one's eye. After first week, final recognition of elected courses was needed to be handed to internation school's office. Changes were allowed for me to make even in the second week of studies (because of unexpected difficulty of studies)

Did you take any examinations at the foreign school?:
Yes, for every class (final paper / test / presentation / combination of those three)

Does the school use the ECTS system?:
no

If not then explain how the credits there were recalculated into ECTS:
I used recalculation on internet website (https://www.scholaro.com/gpa-calculator/) and altogether with my application for first Learning Agreement between host and home universities, I handed in calculation of elected courses from GPA system to ECTS.

Describe the teaching methods (theory, practical and projects) and assessment of students:
3 hours lectures combining seminar and lecturing methods. Every course was different with chosen methods. Assesment of student were just in my eyes, really human - with a lot of time and effort by lectures that were put into the interest of students. Relationship with lecturers were more personal and friendly approaching than I've expected (there was also not many of us, students, at international school).

Quality of teaching in comparison with home school:
As I've described above. I welcomed the personalized education. together with this, I felt that higher expectation of our work was putted on us, also quality and preparation of lecturers were much higher that I've felt at home university.

How did you receive study materials?:
Through moodle application

Can you recommend an interesting course/subject/teacher?:
Social Brain; understanding human psychology and behavior and its connectiveness from neurobiological view
Hebrew; first level, Ms. Mor as teacher - I've learned so much.

How well is the school library equipped?:
Wery well. Abundance of computers, books, very well working library and printing server, a lot of places to study

Availability of computers, internet access, level of software needed, requirements on notebook:
None. Dormitories are equipped with WiFi. No further special software was needed

Options from printing and copying:
All over the place (dormitories, library), the cheapest thing to buy at Israel.

Does the foreign school/student organisation arrange special events for exchange students?:
yes

If yes then what?:
Academics tour and hikes all over Israel (Golan heights, Negev, Galilee, Jerusalem, refugee camps, borders with Lebanon and Syria)

How would you assess your integration with the local students (evaluation like in school from 1 to 5 with 1 as highest):
5

or describe in your own words:
Biggest fail of the study is deffinitely our complete separation from local students. I've just two in our classes, we were not having opportunity to meet them. I do not accept dormitory parties as way of integrating with local students (there were some).

Practical questions on your placement
Where did you live?:
dormitories right next to university

Cost of accommodation - monthly:
460 USD

Additional comments to the price of accommodation (as to what the price includes):

Describe the equipment. Tips for future students – what should they bring with them?:
Cheaper Federman dormitories: Rooms with two bed and two tables, two chairs. One bathroom for every 3 rooms in one flat, one electric stove, fridge, some shelves. Kitchen equipment is usually left by students before another semester. I've brought some plates and I've used them.

More expensive Talia dormitories; private room, much more space in shared places.

How and how far ahead should accommodation be organised?:
together with application if you're not into living downtown in Haifa.

What are the catering options?:
At university, handful of cheaper restaurants (food without meat, load of vegetables on the plate and salad for 25 shekels (cca 160 crowns), with meat for 30 / 35.
Coffee schops all over the university.

What are the rough costs of groceries (compare with Czech prices):
2 or 3 times higher then in Czech. For vegetables, fruits, nuts and such I reccommend Shuk, Talpiot Market downtown. For ther things I reccommend Market Carmel (on the other side of the hill to the south), just 4 minutes with the bus 55.

Transport to location of placement:
To Tel Aviv, then train directly from airport to Haifa. Then with the bus to Haifa. School handed good information about way of arrival.

Rough prices for transportation:
in the city for 90 minutes - 5.90 sheckels
from Haifa central bus station to Jerusalem - 25 sheckels
from Haifa to Akko - 16 sheckels

In Palestine the prices are lower by almost half for transportation, it is good to go with servicee taxi (black and yellow cars and vans, taking no bribes) - not with special taxi (all yellow, for tourists, can be sooo expensive)
From Jerusalem to Rammallah - 2 sheckels +/-
Frop Bethlehem to Hebron - 10 sheckels

Tips for purchasing cheap tickets and other recommendations:
With taxi - if too costy, do not go in. Be tough.
Israeli buses are the top. Really good way to get by.
It is needed to get Rav Kav, card (jako lítačka) that is charged with credits in the bus ir at bus station or through special ATM

What are the local transport options (public transport, cycling, on foot, rough prices):
in Haifa, no cycling. That hill would destroy you, and if not, the cars would.
Buses are the top, everything neat, connected and explained at Google maps or Moovit application.

What kind of formalities have to be arranged before arrival, for example residence permit?:
If not counting Visa and Application for studies at Haifa, then nothing.

What health insurance did you use? (rough price, advantages, disadvantages, is it necessary to arrange insurance at the university other than your home (Czech) insurance?):
Israeli Health insurance for 230 dollars for the time of stay. It is mandatory.

Did you have any experience with medical treatment abroad?:
luckily not

Did you work during your studies?:
could not, but it is really easy to volunteer over all the places.

What are the conditions for working for MU students?:
i do not understand the question.
with study visa, one cannot work.

Tips for free-time activities:
Robin Food restaurant (you do not have to pay anything, food is vegan, pretty tasty, hospitality over 10 000)
Beach
Hiking at nature park (from 2 hour walk to 3 day hike over the mountains)
Hiking through all israel places (must; Negev, Galilee, beaches connecting cities - haifa to caesaria)
Beer is super costy. Wine also.

Financial support and expenses
Total grant from Centre for International Cooperation:
80000 CZK

Monthly grant in CZK:
0 CZK

Number of supported months:
3

Total number of months:
3

What other sources did you make use of to finance your placement?:
Grant from Faculty of Education for studies and stays at abroad

If you received another grant, state which and how much in CZK:
not yet, depends on the comitee.
50 000 CZK

 
Total fees associated with enrolment at the university:
44500 CZK

a/ amount of enrolment fee:
2000 CZK

b/ amount of tuition fees:
30000 CZK

c/ amount of other fees (which):
12500 CZK

 
What was your average monthly expenditure?:
15000 CZK

a/ of which for accommodation:
0 CZK

b/ of which for catering:
9000 CZK

c/ travel and recreation:
6000 CZK

Any comments to the average monthly expenditure:

Recognition of foreign studies at the home faculty
How many credits did you gain during your studies (in the system of the foreign school)?:
12

How many ECTS credits were recognised at MU?:
18

Did you know in advance which of your courses would be recognised by your home faculty?:
yes

What problems did you have with recognition?:
none

Overall assessment
Assessment of personal benefit (1 = excellent):
1

Assessment of academic benefit (1 = excellent):
2

Evaluate the information and support provided by the foreign school (1 = excellent):
1

Did you encounter any serious problems during your stay:
none

What would you recommend to take with you:
book about Israeli / Palestine situation (Marek Čejka)
do some research about the conflict and political situation beforehand

What most surprised you at the partner university in a positive way:
beauty of nature, meaningful classes (in some sense)

What most surprised you at the partner university in a negative way:
isolation from arabs and israelis at university

Further comments: