A few weeks ago, the winter semester started. And we were happy to welcome many new international students on campus Landau – including 18 Ecotox students.
The Welcome Days
In order to help our new internationals to find their way around during the first weeks, every new student had a student mentor – a senior student – who supports them with all administrative steps. Moreover, the International Office organised Welcome Days in the first three weeks of October. During these days the new students were shown around campus and the city of Landau, and they learned about the different steps they have to take in order to get started at the University of Koblenz-Landau. The International Office also organized social events during which the students had the chance to bond and to make new friends.
In order to introduce our international students to the various facets of Germany, its history, food, and culture, the new students took part in the course “German Culture Today” and could also join an intensive German language course. Now they have the opportunity to improve their language skills in German language classes which are on offfer during the lecture period.
Mayor of the City of Landau welcoming new international students
One of the highlights of our Welcome Days was the Formal Welcome for Internationals on October 21st. The students were welcomed by Prof. Dr. Gabriele Schaumann (Dean of Faculty 7 for Natural and Environmental Sciences), Dr. Maximilian Ingenthron (the mayor of the city
of Landau) and the International Office. Everybody had the chance to watch an Indian dance, to hear other internationals speak in their native language, and six international students received their scholarship certificates.
Excursions
Each semester, the International Office organizes different excursions for new international students. These excursions are very popular, and this time our students could choose among a hike on the chestnut-trail in the Palatinate Forest and visits to Strasbourg and Karlsruhe.
We enjoyed finally meeting the new students in person and welcoming them here in Landau. We wish all of them a good start and a successful semester 2016/2017!