Freie Universität Berlin – Language Centre Administration
Nadia works at the Language Centre of Freie Universität Berlin, where she is part of the administrative team responsible for student services, language certifications, test coordination and overall support for both students and teaching staff. She participated in the ‘Live My Life’ project as part of the UNA Europa alliance to gain insight into how language centres operate at partner universities and to exchange experiences with colleagues working in similar institutional contexts.
Nadia joined the Live My Life programme driven by a strong curiosity about how language centres function across Europe. The exchange offered her the opportunity to observe different organisational approaches, workflows and working cultures, while comparing them with her own experience at Freie Universität Berlin.
Although language centres share a common core mission — language teaching, student support and coordination with teaching staff — Nadia found it particularly useful to explore how these activities are organised in practice in different institutional settings. Observing another system in action allowed her to reflect on similarities, differences and local challenges, highlighting how institutional culture can shape everyday work and service delivery.
For Nadia, taking part in the UNA Europa Live My Life programme represented a new and distinctive experience for the Language Centre at Freie Universität Berlin. As the first staff member from her unit to participate, the exchange also carried a broader significance within her team, generating interest and curiosity among colleagues.
Rather than focusing solely on learning new practices, the experience provided an opportunity to step outside daily routines and look at familiar activities from a different perspective. Engaging with another institutional environment supported a deeper reflection on how services are organised, helping to identify both areas with potential for development and elements of the home context that already work effectively.
One of the most valuable aspects of the exchange was the opportunity to compare everyday practices and work cultures. While the basic structure of language centres remains similar across institutions, the way services are organised and challenges are addressed can vary significantly.
This comparative perspective encouraged Nadia to approach her own work with a more analytical and balanced view. Seeing how colleagues at another university manage similar responsibilities offered inspiration, while also reinforcing the value of established practices already in place at her home institution.
Nadia’s experience within the Live My Life project highlights the value of international exchanges as spaces for observation, comparison and professional reflection. The opportunity to engage with a different institutional context allowed her to step back from daily routines and look more critically at how language centre services are organised and delivered.
The exchange supported a more nuanced understanding of both differences and common challenges across European universities, reinforcing the importance of dialogue between staff working in similar roles. By encouraging reflection and knowledge-sharing, Live My Life contributes to the continuous improvement of university services and to a stronger sense of connection within the UNA Europa community.