"Transformation and progress do not take place in the comfort zone"

Many people feel most comfortable where they know their way around. Ulrich Kameni Ngango Veigne is not one of them. Born and raised in a small town in Cameroon, he has lived in Germany for five years. Today he is studying Business Informatics at Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences. "I had briefly studied at Clausthal University of Technology, but the university was too theoretical for me. And then I decided to continue my studies at a university." He travelled around Germany and looked at various cities, and soon made contact with Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences. "I received a lot of information and felt safe," he recalls. "I knew there were nice people at Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences who were committed to helping us students." The young man also liked the city straight away, he says: "I wanted something small, but where there was also something going on!" He says it makes him very happy to show his friends "his university". "It's pretty great in Bremerhaven, I feel at home here."
 
"Transformation and progress do not take place in the comfort zone"

Ulrich Kameni Ngango Veigne shares his experiences with around 80 university members and guests from local politics and business at Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences' annual academic reception. "We build this city - Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences international" is the motto. And despite the communicative atmosphere, the tempting snacks and drinks, the evening somehow became ... uncomfortable in a positive way due to the topics addressed! Just as University Rector Prof Dr Dr Alexis Papathanassis had planned: "Transformation and progress do not take place in the comfort zone," he stated in his welcome address. Rather, discomfort and dissatisfaction lead to progress. "And when discomfort becomes a habit, innovation is the result." The dramaturgy of the evening is also somewhat unusual: Christine Renske Müller, Quality Manager at Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences, is moderating the discussion. She has opted for the innovative "fishbowl" format: The panellists vacate their seats after a certain time and hand them over to guests from the plenary as soon as they come forward to join in the discussion. And so on. The two central questions of the evening: How can Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences attract prospective students from other European and international countries to study one of its specialised and practice-oriented degree programmes? And what career opportunities do companies and institutions in the region offer highly qualified graduates after their studies? It quickly becomes clear that more than just English-language degree programmes are needed to defy demographic developments and to attract urgently needed skilled workers to live in Bremerhaven.

Short distances and a familial atmosphere on campus

Ulrich Kameni Ngango Veigne, a business informatics student, emphasises that an important factor in his feeling at home at the university and in the city is the family atmosphere. "After the coronavirus pandemic, when we all returned to campus, I suddenly found myself sitting at the same table as the Rector in the canteen," he recalls. Hillary Chandra also appreciates the short distances and the feeling of not only not being a student number, but also being closely connected to lecturers and fellow students. The young woman is originally from Jakarta and is studying Biotechnology of Marine Resources in Bremerhaven. "Everyone here at the university is very kind and helped me a lot with my choice of degree programme and enrolment." To ease the financial burden on her parents, she works as a mini-jobber after lectures.

Many of her fellow students also work in the city, for example in catering, in the harbour and in retail. "Around 90 per cent of international students are among them. These minimum wage workers create services that are important for the local economy," says Prof Dr Dr Gerhard Feldmeier. The Dean of Faculty 2 for Management and Information Systems, former Vice-Rector for Internationalisation at Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences, goes on to calculate that, according to a survey, foreign students spent around 680 euros per month in Bremerhaven in 2017 on rent, food and leisure. "If you extrapolate that, it's quite a lot." It is worth noting that around 85 per cent of all foreign students live in the city of Bremerhaven, "far more than the entire student body of the university".

"Access to the labour market is the issue"

However, after successfully completing their studies, the highly qualified young people who do not have a German passport seem to hit an invisible wall. "Despite the declining demand for higher education throughout Germany, students choose Bremerhaven because of the quality of education and the profile of the university, and leave the city after graduation to work elsewhere," says University Rector Prof. Dr Dr Alexis Papathanassis, summarising the problem. He points to the results of a 2018 survey conducted by "Study in Germany" of over 4,300 international students: 70 per cent of respondents stated that they wanted to stay in Germany after their studies. However, only 40 per cent of them stated that they had found a job in Germany after graduation. "Access to the labour market is the issue," concludes Papathanassis from the results, which Dr Frank Thoss can only confirm. Thoss is responsible for the areas of industry, innovation, environment and tourism at the Bremen-Bremerhaven Chamber of Commerce. "We need the immigration of skilled workers," he emphasises. "Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences has geared its programmes towards the local economy and is very well networked with companies and institutions in the region." A number of graduates are "important young talent" for the scientific institutes and organisations in the seaside city, for example for the Alfred Wegener Institute. "It's incredibly important that we break this 70-40 rule!" His suggestion: more funding and a wide range of language courses.

The city's leisure and cultural offerings are also an important factor in ensuring that people settle well in Bremerhaven in the long term, as everyone agreed that evening. "While older people can fulfil their dream of owning their own home in Bremerhaven and the surrounding area, there is still room for improvement for young people," says Thoss. "Students often live in Bremerhaven, but later move away - many highly-paid public sector employees work here, but live in Bremen and pay their taxes there," agrees Elena Schiller. She is involved with the Green Party in Bremerhaven in the areas of diversity and integration.

"Internationalisation means hospitality for all"
 
One example of how integration can work in a playful way is the international football club at Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences. "Here, German and international students train together once a week," says Prof Dr Dieter Heimann, Dean of Studies at Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences, presenting a small example of success. "There are hardly any language barriers. And the shared joy of moving together automatically means that you don't stay in your own bubble, but feel integrated and accepted". This is exactly what it's all about, university rector and host Prof. Dr Dr Alexis summarised the discussion: The most important issue is access to the labour market. "We also need to ensure that language barriers are broken down. We have to make it easier for internationals to come here. Because in the end, internationalisation means hospitality for all!" (Translated with use of DeepL)