Between August 16 and September 14, seven students from Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University completed an internship at St. Rochus Hospital in Castrop-Rauxel, Germany. This group marked the third visit to Castrop-Rauxel within the scope of a cooperation agreement signed in 2023 between the Castrop-Rauxel German-Greek-Turkish Sister Cities Association (DGT-CR e.V.), the hospital, and the Turkish university.

The students, who are studying in the departments of Nursing and Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation, accompanied specialists in various departments of the hospital, including the Emergency Room. Through this experience, they deepened the knowledge they had gained during their academic and professional training, while also gaining insight into new treatment approaches.

In addition to the medical training, DGT-CR e.V. supported the students’ stay with a comprehensive social program. This included a tour of Castrop-Rauxel, regional excursions, and visits to major European cities such as Maastricht, Liège (Lüttich), and The Hague (Den Haag).

Marina Majnaric, the pedagogical coordinator at SLG St. Paulus GmbH, emphasized the significance of the project with the following words:

“Thanks to great dedication, this international exchange has become an integral part of our clinic, and friendships between countries have been formed.”

The program concluded with a joint breakfast attended by Member of the Federal Parliament Frank Schwabe and DGT-CR e.V. Vice President Kubilay Corbaci. The exchange was made possible with the support of local companies such as Jürgen Pohl Driving School, HHK GmbH, IFM Internationale Freileitungsmontage, and GS Bauservice. The municipal administration also supported the project under its patronage.

Many participants from previous exchange groups remain in contact with their colleagues at St. Rochus Hospital. The sister city relationship between Zonguldak and Castrop-Rauxel has been ongoing since 2013.