Tünews International - English

27/06/2025

24/06/2025

tünews INTERNATIONAL is looking for two “Bufdis”

tünews INTERNATIONAL has two new positions for the Federal Volunteer Service. The two jobs for “Bufdis” have different focuses.

One position involves working in the social media editorial department, while the other focuses on online news. “We write news and reports relevant to everyday life for people who are new to Germany and want to integrate here.

We work according to journalistic principles and carry out in-depth research,” says the job advertisement.
Teamwork at a tuenews workshop. Photo: tuenews INTERNATIONAL / Mostafa Elyasian.

Language skills are a plus
Volunteers work in a multilingual editorial team that produces journalistic content specifically for new immigrants. Language skills in English, Arabic, Dari, Farsi or Ukrainian are a plus when applying.

Other key areas of work are the culture of remembrance and the museum landscape of the Tübingen region. The tasks range from editorial work to translations and organizational activities. Applicants can be younger or older than 27.

Further information and application: bundesfreiwilligendienst.de – tünews INTERNATIONAL

www.tuenews.de/en

23/06/2025

The state pays pension contributions for raising children

The German pension system provides special support for parents who devote themselves to raising children. The state rewards them for their time by crediting them with pension contributions for the first years of each child’s life – as if they had paid contributions themselves.

How the credit works
Parents who raise children receive credit for contributions to the statutory pension insurance scheme and later receive a higher pension for this period.

The contributions are paid by the state. This compensates for the fact that mothers or fathers are often only able to work to a limited extent or not at all.

Parents are credited with up to three years of contributions to the statutory pension insurance scheme as “child-raising periods.” This increases their pension.

Duration and amount of the credits
The duration of the pension contribution credit depends on the year of birth of the child:
• For children born after 1992: up to three years per child are credited.
• For children born before 1992: up to 30 months (2.5 years) of child-raising are credited toward the so-called “mothers’ pension.”

During the child-raising period, parents are treated as if they had paid contributions based on the average earnings of all insured persons. Converted, one year of child-raising currently brings 39.32 euros per month in pension benefits (from July 1 this year, 40.79 euros).

For each calendar month of child-rearing, just under one pension point worth €39.32 per year is credited. With a maximum of three years of child-rearing, the monthly pension is increased by almost €118.

If several children were raised at the same time, the months of child-rearing are taken into account for all children when calculating the pension.

Read more on www.tuenews.de/en

18/06/2025

Learn German slowly: integration course with more time

For migrants who need more time to learn German, the Tübingen-based association Infö offers a special integration course.

It starts on Monday, June 23. The course begins with a basic language course consisting of 300 lessons, which focuses on relearning how to learn. This is followed by 600 to 900 additional units with the goal of being able to speak and write German.

At the end of the language course, participants take the „Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer” (German test for immigrants). In addition, there is an orientation course that lasts 100 hours.

Participants must be proficient in the Latin alphabet.
The course is specifically aimed at men and women who have little experience with writing and learning. „These people have usually attended school for a few years and/or learned and practiced a profession.

Since they often left school a long time ago, they need some time to find their feet in the new learning environment.
Reading and concentrating on longer texts is a major challenge for them,“ according to the Infö text.

The integration course offers more teaching time than normal integration courses, which usually only comprise 600 hours of language lessons. You can register by phone at 07071-33006 or by email at [email protected].

Further information is available during Infö’s open office hours at Mauerstraße 2 in Tübingen on Mondays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Wednesdays from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. You can also register there.

www.tuenews.de/en

09/06/2025

Who benefits from distance learning in Germany?

Distance learning is a modern form of study in which course content is primarily delivered online. Students can study anywhere and anytime, allowing them to organize their daily lives flexibly—ideal for working professionals, parents, or people who are tied to a specific location.
Providers of distance learning programs

Distance learning is offered by the FernUniversität in Hagen, the only state-run distance learning university in Germany (fernuni-hagen.de), as well as by private universities such as the IU Internationale Hochschule (iu-fernstudium.de) and the Wilhelm Büchner Hochschule.

Continuing education institutes such as SGD and ILS also offer distance learning courses.

What to look for in a distance learning program
Distance learning is suitable for anyone who can work independently and in a structured manner, as self-discipline is crucial.

Anyone interested in distance learning should pay attention to the state recognition of the program, the quality of the teaching materials, the time commitment, and the costs. It is also worth obtaining information about financing options such as BAföG or scholarships

Read more on www.tuenews.de/engl

06/06/2025

The Feast of Sacrifice means sharing with others

The Festival of the Sacrifice or “Eid al-Adha” is one of the most important festivals for Muslims. The festival has its origins in the story of Prophet Ibrahim, who almost sacrificed his son out of obedience to his God. Instead, God sent him a sheep.

That is why the sacrifice of an animal, such as a sheep, camel, or cow is the focus. The meat is prepared and then shared: depending on the degree of kinship, the man gives one-third to the poor people, another to relatives and friends.

Also, man can keep very little for one’s own family. In Germany, Muslims who want to celebrate the Feast of Sacrifice face many challenges. According to the German Animal Welfare Act, the slaughter of animals is only permitted under very specific and officially tested conditions, and this may only be carried out by specialist personnel.

How do Muslims deal with this? We collected some voices from Tünews editors:
The illegal slaughter of an animal is out of the question for many Muslim people in this country. It also carries a serious consequence.

Therefore, many people transfer money to their relatives in the origin country, so they sacrifice an animal locally in their name. On the Feast of the Sacrifice, Muslims from different nations meet in a mosque, as in Tübingen, to pray and celebrate together.

Guests bring pastries and sweets they have prepared themselves. Also, breakfast is served together with games for the children. For the revelers, the focus is above all on the community spirit; sharing with people who are close to you or who are not doing so well. “There is no better way to bring family, friends, and neighbors together than this festival.”

www.tuenews.de/en

06/06/2025

The Ammertalbahn will not be running from June 7

Journeys on the Ammertalbahn from Tübingen to Herrenberg will no longer be possible from Pentecost Saturday, June 7.

The train line will be closed during the holidays until Sunday, June 22. This is due to renovation work in in Tübingen, Altingen, Entringen, and Pfäffingen. For residents,

it may be noisy—even in the evenings and at night, as well as on weekends. Replacement buses will run all day. In Tübingen, they will depart from bus platform R, and in Herrenberg from bus platform

www.tuenews.de/en

31/05/2025

Medical referral valid for entire treatment

A clinic in Tübingen demanded that a refugee obtain a new referral for the new quarter—even though only a hand injury required further treatment.

This is against the rules. A referral is ‘valid for the entire duration of treatment.’ This is stipulated by the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV).

No new referral every quarter
Sometimes it is difficult to get appointments with specialists. If an appointment cannot be made until after the quarter in which the referral was issued, patients do not need a new referral.

In other cases, the following also applies: ‘Referrals are valid across quarters,’ according to the KBV. This means that patients undergoing treatment do not need a new referral every quarter.

This also applies if the treatment began in the quarter in which the referral was issued but is not completed until the following quarter or ‘even lasts until the quarter after that or longer,’ as the KBV writes.

The rules also apply to clinics
Referrals to specialist practices or clinics can be issued for various reasons. For example, for special examinations or for the co-treatment or further treatment of patients. ‘This includes outpatient treatment and operations in hospital,’ according to the KBV.

www.tuenews.de/en