"Brotzeit", beer, and warm words: Welcome reception for international students at the KU

A total of 45 young academics from 26 partner institutions are starting their studies at the KU this winter semester – divided between the two campuses in Eichstätt (22) and Ingolstadt (23). The group is quite diverse: In addition to exchange students who will stay for only one or two semesters, some have decided to pursue a degree at the KU. Most exchange students come from partner institutions in France, Italy, Kosovo, and Brazil.

Overall, international students make up about 23 percent of the student body at the KU. The lion’s share of these students is enrolled in the Master’s in Business Administration at the Ingolstadt campus: 105 students there are currently from abroad. The Master’s in Data Science is also popular at the Ingolstadt campus. But the Eichstätt campus also offers a degree program that sparks the interest of young people from all over the world: the Master’s in International Relations.
At the reception on Tuesday evening, Anna Marcos, Director of the International Office, emphasized how valuable it is that students bring different cultures, languages, and new perspectives to the University and, by extension, into the lecture halls. She also highlighted the importance of international exchange programs in general: “In a world that is often perceived as divided today, I believe it is the role of universities to create spaces where people from different cultures can come together, learn from one another, and collaborate – despite their differences.”

Deputy District Administrator Sven John highlighted, among other things, all the activities students can enjoy in Eichstätt – from cycling and boating to rock climbing: “It’s a good place to live.”
Third Deputy Mayor Martina Edl also addressed the audience with warm words, saying: “Enjoy your time here with us in Eichstätt – and maybe one or two of you will stay with us by falling in love.” She emphasized that Eichstätt is a wonderful place for that and listed the magical locations—from the Hofgarten to the Spiegelsaal —where one could get married in Eichstätt. And whether it’s a wedding or not, Eichstätt is always inviting to explore.

After the official part of the program, the evening came to a cozy close with snacks and beer. The only real excitement came during a small awards ceremony: The international students had explored Eichstätt during a city scavenger hunt the day before. The “Eichstätt Experts” team secured the victory. The name says it all, and who knows—maybe the international students will soon be true experts on their new university town.

Text and photos: Lena-Luisa Maier, translation: Sylvia Schmager