6th Erasmus Staff Week 2024 promotes the exchange of participants from 14 EU countries

"Diversity in Higher Education Institutions: Different Perspectives and Experiences" was the motto of this year's Erasmus Staff Week, which was organised by the International Offices of Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences, the University of Bremen, Bremen University of Applied Sciences and Constructor University in cooperation with the Offices for Equal Opportunities and Diversity. Around 40 participants from 14 EU countries, as well as employees from the organising institutions, attended the event. Both the hosts and the participants from the partner universities presented best-practice examples, ideas and concepts, which were analysed and discussed in interactive workshops. "The Erasmus Staff Week is a great opportunity for university staff to exchange ideas on a current topic and gain new inspiration for their own work. I am delighted that we were able to show the participants the university and the city of Bremerhaven," says Aleksandra Rupietta, Head of the International Office at Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences.

At Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences, the international guests learnt about its "diversity horizons" and the associated tasks, goals and topics. These are part of the organisational and strategic diversity orientation of the university, which was recently awarded the "Shaping Diversity" certificate by the Stifterverband. Rector Prof. Dr Dr Alexis Papathanassis welcomed the participants and talked to them about ideas on how the university would like to attract more prospective international students in the future and thus counteract the demographically driven decline in student numbers. "Internationalisation is not a goal or a strategy, but a mindset. We shouldn't see it as a challenge, but as something that Germany is known for: export. Internationalisation is the export of education and knowledge. In the spirit of an 'Open University', we want to open ourselves up to the world and not react to the changes with fear, but meet them with open arms," said the Rector. The specialised and innovative degree programmes in particular and the manageable size are also of interest to international students. In addition, the university has succeeded in retaining traditional specialisations while remaining open to change. For example, the maritime focus can be found in the International Tourism Management degree programme, which prepares students for the future-oriented tourism industry. 
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