DAAD invites to the Regional Meeting “Welcome – Students Volunteer for Refugees” in Bochum
The DAAD regional meeting “Welcome – Students Volunteer for Refugees” organised by the International Office is held Friday, 18 November 2016 at Ruhr-Universität Bochum’s Blue Square.
The event starts with Rector Prof Dr Schölmerich honouring the student initiatives; thereby showing himself impressed by their continuous efforts. Apart from Rector Schölerich, Peter Greisler of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and Dr Dorothea Rüland, Secretary General of the DAAD, also greet the representatives of the various student initiatives that support refugees at universities throughout North Rheine-Westphalia.
Exchange, networking and best practices are the focus of the event. The 15 participating university student initiatives presented their programmes and projects with self-designed poster presentations.
The cooperation between the various institutions at RUB as well as between its partners explains Dr. Anja Zorob from “University without borders”. The extensive offers for refugees of the International Office are presented by Ulrike Herrlich form RUBiss – International Student Services. Besides the intensive counselling and support for prospective refugee students by the International Office, are the Integra German courses particularly demanded. In winter term 2016/2017, 240 refugees take part in the German beginner courses; 550 applied for a place.
Afterwards, RUB’s student initiatives are able to introduce themselves. Student volunteers explain their work as German teachers for the Integra German courses. The Refugee Law Clinic Bochum and the Studentische Flüchtlingshilfe Bochum as well as AStA’s (General Students' Committee) buddy-programme “Gemeinsam – Studis für Flüchtlinge” introduce their projects and services offered.
Impulse presentations by the Bergische Universität Wuppertal and the Universität Duisburg-Essen followed by a lively discussion about the opportunities and challenges concerning the integration of refugees in everyday university life mark the end of the event.
