Interdisciplinary teams use the method of design thinking to develop creative solutions for real social challenges in the fields of education, culture and sustainability. Together with non-profit partners of practice from the Ruhr region, sustainable ideas for a sustainable transfer of knowledge from the university to the region are created.

“Studium hoch E” - Integration of internationals through their engagement

The UDE includes 20 percent of international students which proofs the attractiveness of the UDE’s localization. Therefore, it is important to decrease the barrier of integration into the cultural life and the community as much as possible.

The UDE and two other universities in Germany were selected for the project because of the longstanding experience with Service Learning and social commitment. Within the project the UDE cooperates with the “Ehrenamt Agentur e. V.”. The project is professionally supported by the Martin-Luther-Universität Halle and the Freiwilligen-Agentur Halle.

In a three-year transfer and development project, the UDE will now develop low barriers for access, lasting opportunities, and supportive framework conditions for the civic engagement of students with a migration history and international students to contribute to social integration.

The special feature of the project is the intersectoral cooperation between universities on the one hand and civil society organizations on the other, as well as the intensification of mutual knowledge transfer. Especially, the long-standing cooperation between UNIAKTIV and the Ehrenamt Agentur Essen e. V. was highlighted as important.[CF(1]

While the Ehrenamt Agentur provides counseling and mediation services on the campus Essen, UNIAKTIV will develop customized didactic programs for the target group in cooperation with the International Office and the Tutoring Service Center of the UDE. Ultimately, the aim of all measures is to increase the target group's ability to study and to enable social participation.

The federal network Bürgerschaftliches Engagement (BBE) in Berlin is the sponsor of the joint project StudiumE, which is funded by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF). The project is made possible by the provision of a contribution by the rectorate of the UDE.

Through the cooperation with the Ehrenamt Agentur Essen e.V. and the International Office, students are given easier access to information and support for their path to involvement.[CF(2]

The Ehrenamt Agentur Essen e.V. provides advice on volunteer opportunities every weekday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. by phone at 0201/839-1485 or on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. by video call via Zoom. In this case, you are asked to register by e-mail to info@ehrenamtessen.de, where you will receive the meeting ID.

+++ Due to the current situation, unfortunately no face-to-face consultations can take place at the moment. As soon as the situation allows, face-to-face consultations will be offered again at the Essen campus in PIK (in front of S05). +++