Semester kick-off at RWU

Weingarten - On March 13, a new phase of life began for 252 freshmen in bright sunshine: With the start of the summer semester, they begin their studies at Ravensburg-Weingarten University of Applied Sciences (RWU). 201 Bachelor's and 51 Master's students were admitted. The freshmen come to study in Weingarten not only from the region but from all over Germany and from more than 60 countries worldwide.

Welcoming ceremony at the Weingarten Culture and Congress Center

After a three-year break due to corona, the first semester welcome could again traditionally take place in the Culture and Congress Center in Weingarten. Lord Mayor Clemens Moll opened the event and welcomed the new students to the university town of Weingarten. He encouraged them to get involved and get involved: "Our city has a lot to offer, get involved!"

The university's rector, Professor Dr. Thomas Spägele, was also pleased to see so many young people filling the rows in front of him at the Kuko. He thanked the first-year students for their confidence in RWU and explained that with the new right to award doctorates at universities of applied sciences (HAW), an academic career was now open to students at RWU. The rector then gave the freshmen ten useful tips for their upcoming studies. In addition to learning techniques, good time management and good cooperation with fellow students, leisure time, sports and cultural activities and, last but not least, partying are all part of studying.

Intercultural experience

RWU has 3,500 students at the beginning of the summer semester. Of these, a total of 15 percent are international students. This semester, 80 young people from 26 different countries will begin their studies. Sixty-four of them will spend their entire studies in Weingarten and the remaining 16 will spend one or two exchange semesters. Rector Spägele encouraged the freshmen to spend a semester abroad during their studies. RWU offers students a wide range of opportunities with its more than 50 partner universities around the world. Experiences abroad are of central importance, Spägele said - "not only for your studies, but also for your personality. The experiences will accompany you throughout your life."

The fact that internationalization is an important pillar of the university is also shown by the number of new students: One of the most sought-after bachelor's degree programs is the English-language Electrical Engineering and Information Technology program with 129 applicants, 34 of whom were admitted. The bachelor's program in Social Work is also in high demand with 58 of 128 applicants starting there. This trend continues in the master's program: the Social Work and Participation program has the highest number of applicants among the master's programs with 13 of 28 applicants admitted.

Community and cooperative university life

After the official welcome event at which the university's rectorate and deans also introduced themselves, the 'first-timers' set off for the RWU campus on the Martinsberg together with the constituted student body and the student councils. There, the rest of the day was spent with various activities, a campus tour and getting to know each other.

After the first-year students were welcomed by their respective program directors and introduced to the subject on the following day, the day of initiatives and institutions was on the agenda of the freshman orientation week on Wednesday. This gave students the opportunity to get to know the university's institutions and the numerous university groups better and to find out more.

Here to the photo gallery.

Text: Lisann Gauss