This is a report about my experience with Erasmus+ in Dublin, supported by the mobility agency "Arbeit und Leben". I stayed in Ireland for 6 weeks and got a total of 2.750 Euros Erasmus+ stipend. I didn't have another agency to plan my trip, I planned and booked everything on my own, with help and support from my class teacher, Ms. Genova-Guhl, and the person responsible in “Arbeit und Leben” for Ireland, Ms. Lukaschek, to which both I am very grateful.
The programm was from 10/07 to 18/08/2023 and the application with “Arbeit und Leben” was sent 4 months before departure, including the contact and application to the host organization in Dublin. Professor Gilheany responded immediately, accepted me into his summer research group and supported me with further discussions with the university.
Erasmus+ Application with “Arbeit und Leben, Hamburg”
You have to fill a form on the Website “Arbeit und Leben”, after finding the host organization in the desired country, in my case, the University College Dublin, School of Chemistry in Ireland, and having authorization from your company and school (Berufsschule) in Germany.
At UCD, you must stay for a period of at least 2 months to be hosted by Erasmus programm from the university. As I chose to stay for just 6 weeks I was hosted from the chemistry school as a visitor student. On the chemistry school UCD website there is a list of professors with their respective CVs. I wrote to a professor in the area I was interested in, organic synthesis, and wrote him a personal e-mail with my application.
Some European countries do not understand what an “Ausbildung” is, so it is important to explain in details how long an “Ausbildung” lasts and what we learned at school and in the company so they can understand it better.
I did the application 4 months before the departure. I got an answer from "Arbeit und Leben” very quickly with a confirmation for the “Stipendium”. Then I had to fill out some forms with the learning agreement, which I and the host organization also have to fulfill. In the end I got the contract and the learn-agreement and I had to send it back by post. Before the departure, it is necessary to take part in 2 seminars, the first one is online. The second one is face-to-face and you learn a lot about the Europe Union and Erasmus.
Accomodation, finacial and transport
I found a host family on a Facebook group "Acommodation in Dublin" and I paid a total of 1.000 Euros for a room for 6 weeks. It is important to handle this carefully and not to make a transfer but to pay when you arrive, because there are many fakes on those groups, also in Airbnb. On the other hand, It is essential to book an accomodation or to agree with a family as soon as possible, because there are too many students in Dublin and less accomodations and the prices are extremely high.
I booked the flight tickets 1 month before the trip with Ryanair for 140 Euro.
A week after arriving in Dublin, I got half of the “Stipendium” from Erasmus, round about 1.400 euros. I got the other half of the money in the third week.
Buses cost half price for students. Inside Dublin with the student card (you need to show your German "Azubi" card to have a student card issued to you) and it costs 1 euro each trip. The card can be recharged with the app on the cell phone.
In the meantime I was able to improve my English, speaking with the host family or colleagues at the university, or writing protocols and reading subject books.
Life in Dublin
On the weekends I had the opportunity to travel around Ireland, from south to north, from east to west. In the south of Ireland the currency is the euro, but as soon as you go to the north of Ireland it does not belongs to the European Union but to Great Britain.
The food is not very expensive and there is a huge variety of products and also for vegans.
Hygiene products and medicines are extremely expensive. Medical care is bad and expensive.
The people are very friendly, polite and open, they really like to talk and to meet new people.
The weather is most of the time bad, it rains a lot and in the summer it is relatively cold, but in the winter it is not as cold as in Germany.
Host Organisation
First of all, I had to take a laboratory security training and fill out some forms from the university.
After clarifying with the university about my “Ausbildung” and planning how and what would be done during these 6 weeks. (It is important that it has a connection with what is learned in the "Ausbildung"), 2 projects were planned, where I was able to work independently in the laboratory and in the measuring room, putting into practice everything I learned at the “Berufsschule” in terms of synthesis and analitical chemistry.
I had other colleagues within the professor's research group, but each one had their own project. In my project I was able to conduct the entire process independently and help with decisions for the synthesis, such as temperature, solvent, glassware, reaction time, etc. The objective of the synthesis project was to form a nitrogen compound with 5 valences.
The other project's goal was to develop a method for separating isomers of a compound with the help of HPLC. where I was able to learn everything about the measuring device and understand what each parameter does and helps in separating the compounds.
Both projects were carried out successfully in these 6 weeks, but I would have liked to have had a little more time to do everything slower.
I was very welcomed by the university. A coat and work materials were provided to me. I was able to borrow a laptop, I had access to the university gym and the library with my student card.
My Overall Reflection
Erasmus was an incredible experience in my life, both professionally and privately. I met many people, made friends, which I still keep in touch with. As a result, I expanded my social skills, as I learned to have more courage to talk to unknown people and be interested in other cultures and histories.
I was able to put into practice everything I learned at school about organic synthesis, such as bromination, oxidation of benzoic compounds, esterification and catalytic processes at high temperatures. I learned how to create scientific protocols and carry out real scientific research.
I learned to trust myself more, because I got more self-confidence and I saw that I can deal well with unknown situations.
Ireland is definitely worth it – a beautiful culture, a long history, friendly and relaxed people. Erasmus gave me a great perspective for the future and I am grateful for that.
UCD School Of Chemistry - Host organisation
Anmeldung Erasmus+ Stipendium Auszubildende, Absolvent:innen (arbeitundleben.de) Arbeit und Leben Erasmus
Young Adult and Student Card - Leap Card - Bus ticket Dublin
Yasmin Engel (Ausbildung als Chemielaborantin, Klasse Ch 20/1 an der Beruflichen Schule 06)
