New International Garden opens at the University of Vechta!

New International Garden opens at the University of Vechta!

The University of Vechta recently opened a new “International Garden”, which is intended as a meeting and relaxation space for students and employees. The garden is located in the green area at the International Office and offers inviting facilities with colorful picnic benches, chairs, a pavilion as well as a table tennis table and other outdoor games. This project is intended not only to create a place for relaxation, but also to serve as a framework for various events. According to the report by mynewsdesk.com it is a further step towards promoting the international community at the university.

The garden is financed through third-party funds raised by the International Office, including from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). This is part of the funded project “FIT – Promoting International Talents”, which is intended to support international students in Germany in their study success. The measures in this program include community building and networking among students. These projects are intended to help facilitate the integration of international students into the German education system, which is also a central objective of the financing by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research daad.de emerges.

Enthusiasm of the students

Madina Moomand, a student teacher from Afghanistan, describes the new garden as a place where you can “take a deep breath” and “arrive.” Pranamita Das, a fellow student from India, also emphasizes the connection between nature and open space. Both are involved as student assistants in the garden project and actively contribute to shaping the cosmopolitan character of the University of Vechta. Their positive experiences reflect the garden's goal of creating a welcoming atmosphere in which students from all over the world can meet and exchange ideas.

The International Garden will also be represented at the university's upcoming sports and summer festival on June 18, 2025. This event underlines the importance of the garden as part of the university culture and as a platform for networking.

Integration in the academic environment

The FIT program, which forms the basis for this project, not only supports international students on their qualification path, but also promotes the development of career services at German universities. The program aims, among other things, to make integration into the German labor market easier. This is achieved by providing targeted support for students who need to orientate themselves on their educational path in Germany. The DAAD launched this initiative as part of a comprehensive strategy to improve study conditions for international students and is committed to funding until 2028 daad.de is explained.

In a broader context, the importance of the internationalization of science in Germany is also articulated in the Bundestag. The chairman of the Committee for Education, Research and Technology, Kai Gehring, mentions the need to create unbureaucratic procedures and an improved welcoming culture at universities. This is an aspect that the German Rectors' Conference (HRK) also considers to be crucial. Among other things, it calls for more flexibility in university access and the expansion of study preparation programs for international students, as stated in an article forschung-und-lehre.de held.

Overall, the new International Garden at the University of Vechta reflects the current trend to comprehensively support international students and promote a positive welcoming culture that extends far beyond the campus.