New Service of the Welcome Centre: Guest Gallery
In order to enhance support for guest researchers at RUB by making administrative channels and workflows easier, the Welcome Centre has recently developed the International Researchers Database. Once registered, the Welcome Centre team will be able to answer administrative questions about one´s stay in Bochum, provide a welcome package with useful information and an access card for the International Lounge, the Welcome Centre newsletter (optional), which contains information about upcoming events, German language lessons and much more – even before the guest will have arrived in Bochum. Additionally, the visiting researchers can book the Welcome Centre’s tutor service to have someone accompany them when dealing with authorities.
Online Profile for Visiting Researchers
Now, Guest Gallery has been created as an useful addition to our time-tested database. "Are there any other researchers from my country at RUB?" - the Welcome Centre staff was asked this question many times and due to data protection restrictions, it was very frustrating that this question could not be answered. Networking at the regular Welcome Centre events was rather difficult, as well. The Welcome Centre team has therefore developed Guest Gallery in cooperation with "Dezernat 6" of Ruhr-University, inspired by our guest´s feedback. International researchers can now create a research profile with contact details and publish it at the website of RUB to connect with other guests at the university. Contact details, a picture, the personal research focus, recent projects and awards, publications - the information provided is up to the visiting researchers. They decide what is uploaded at the RUB website.
Search engine
A search engine for faculty, nationality, duration of stay and name provides RUB’s guests with the possibility to find and contact other researchers directly. This is even supported by an animated world map. By using the new feature Guest Gallery, visiting researchers at RUB can make first contacts with their new colleagues – even without the Welcome Centre as direct communication gateway and prior to their arrival in Bochum.
