International students discover Paderborn: A new home?

International students discover Paderborn: A new home?

On Tuesday, May 9, 2025, numerous students from 36 partner universities from 20 different countries came together in the Paderborn town hall. This international exchange was opened by Mayor Michael Dreier, who warmly welcomed the students into the large meeting room. In his speech, Dreier emphasized the high quality of the University of Paderborn and encouraged the international guests to discover the city as a new temporary home. Paderborn has long been known not only for its educational institutions, but also for its diverse town partnerships.

Dreier acknowledged the partnerships with Przemysl, Belleville, Bolton, Debrecen, Le Mans, Pamplona and Beylikdüzü. Considering the recent political developments, especially the arrests of Istanbul and Beylikdüzü mayors Ekrem İmamoğlu and Mehmet Murat Çalik, the mayor showed support for democracy and equality in Turkey by passing a resolution. It was a clear sign of international solidarity and a call to uphold human rights.

A look at Paderborn

Mayor Dreier introduced the new train station, the city library and the Heinz Nixdorf Museum Forum and presented the students with various urban development projects such as the town hall, the open library and the future quarter. Particular attention was paid to the “City, People, River – The Pader for Europe” project, which aims to apply for the European Cultural Heritage Label. Pader plays a central role here, both as a geographical and cultural element.

In his farewell remarks, Dreier wished the students much success and concluded his speech with a blessing, which underlined the celebratory nature of the event. The Vice President for International Relations, Prof. Dr. Heike Trautmann encouraged the students to consider Paderborn as their second home. Prof. Dr. also commented Beate Flath, Vice President for Teaching, Studies and Quality Management, expressed her wishes for meaningful experiences and academic success during her stay in the city.

After the official welcome, the students had the opportunity to network and get to know representatives of the city and the university. These encounters are crucial for building an international network and sharing intercultural experiences.

Academic achievements in view

However, the University of Paderborn is not only known for its city, but also for outstanding scientific work. In the Faculty of Cultural Studies, several theses on current and historical topics were honored. In his bachelor's thesis in the winter semester of 2021/22, Dominik Janzen dealt with the typhus epidemic of 1898 in Paderborn and examined the official crisis management at that time. Jana Riegert chose a similar topic and received the “Prize for Outstanding Theses” for her master’s thesis on the cholera epidemic in Paderborn in 1866/67.

In the years that followed, other notable works were submitted, including Vanessa Jagla's bachelor's thesis on cholera and its topographical influence, as well as several master's theses that dealt with water supply and the historical context of disease control. Jannik Bernard and Jonas Deibach also received awards for their outstanding research work in 2023.

These academic achievements reflect not only the quality of teaching, but also the students' commitment to engaging with important historical and social issues. Paderborn therefore remains a place of knowledge and international cooperation, characterized by both educational initiatives and cultural exchange.

For more detailed information about the city as well as the projects and partnerships, you can read the reporting from uni-paderborn.de as well as information about the European Cultural Heritage Label kw.uni-paderborn.de visit. In addition, the university's academic optional service offers exciting insights into local history and its significance in the European context.