Heike Brandl

Ms. Heike Brandl is a researcher and administrator at Bielefeld University, affiliated with the Faculty of Linguistics and Literary Studies. She serves as Head of Department in the International Office (Dept. 3: Study Preparation and Support for International Students) and leads the German Learning Center PunktUm.

• Primary Role: Management of PunktUm and support for international students
• Secondary Role: Coordination of German language courses for academic integration

Research Focus: Her work centers on creating interdisciplinary German language learning opportunities and advising on academic writing in German as a foreign language. She addresses challenges faced by international students in multilingual academic environments, including literacy skill development and preparation for university entrance exams.

Teaching Contributions: Brandl oversees 14 specialized modules in German as a foreign language, ranging from foundational academic communication (A1-A2 CEFR) to advanced C1-level courses. These modules emphasize text analysis, academic writing, and practical language use for both degree-seeking and exchange students.

International Engagement: She has conducted guest lectureships at universities across Poland, Italy, Cameroon, Turkey, China, Vietnam, and Germany since 2002. Her experience includes teacher training programs for German as a foreign language both domestically and internationally.

Professional Background: Before her leadership roles, Brandl worked as a research assistant in German as a foreign language (2002-2008) and held various German teaching positions at institutions globally. Her current work combines research administration with direct educational support for international students.