Welcoming New Students with the Semester Kick-off at the Stadium

Professor Manfred Bayer, President of TU Dortmund University, extended a warm welcome to the students embarking on their first semester: “The most important thing is to be curious and committed in your approach to your studies. I hope that you learn a lot, develop both professionally and personally, and enjoy what you are doing in the process.” With around 5,180 first-time and new enrollments as of 13 October, the number of students starting their studies at TU Dortmund University has risen slightly in comparison to last year. Although the large cohorts that graduated from high school in the 2010s are now completing their university degrees across the country, the total number of students at TU Dortmund University remains high. This year, a particularly large number of new students have enrolled in the Bachelor’s program “Business Administration and Economics”, which was not subject to admission restrictions this time: Around 630 new students are starting this week.

Increasingly international profile

The proportion of students from other countries has risen too – to over 20 percent. “I’m very pleased that the number of international students is steadily growing,” said Professor Bayer. “Internationalization is part of the university culture actively practiced at TU Dortmund University.” Moreover, the university has introduced three further English-taught Master’s programs this winter semester, such as the specialization “Biopharmaceutical Engineering” at the Department of Biochemical and Chemical Engineering, for which 19 students have enrolled. The aim is to train the next generation of international professionals more extensively. The “M.Sc. in Mechanics of Sustainable Materials and Structures” – the second European multiple-degree program at TU Dortmund University funded by the EU within the Erasmus Mundus action – is now in its second year, and the number of students has already increased to 50. These figures are still provisional, the final statistics will be announced in December, as some enrollments and re-registrations are still pending.

Lively program to welcome the new students

Christoph Edeler, Head of the Office of University Sports, emceed the event and, together with Silke Viol, Deputy Head of the International Office, and the deans of the 17 departments, presented the university’s wide range of offers and contact points. Annika Ricke and Darius Weitekamp, chairpersons of the General Student Committee, also extended a warm welcome to their new fellow students.

The cello quartet of the Dortmunder Philharmoniker (Dortmund Philharmonic Orchestra), together with Antonia Kalinowski and Tobias Joch from the current cast of the musical “Grease” at Theater Dortmund, provided the musical accompaniment for the welcome event. In addition, the students gathered in the stadium were treated to a solo choreography by Kaining Dong from the junior ballet at Theater Dortmund. Raffael von Hoensbroech, Artistic Director of Konzerthaus Dortmund (Dortmund Concert Hall), and Tobias Ehinger, managing director of Theater Dortmund, welcomed the students to the city on behalf of Dortmund’s cultural institutions.

Together with Johannes Zedel from Studierendenwerk Dortmund (Association for Student Affairs), surprise guest Kevin Großkreutz, a former BVB soccer player, threw darts to draw three winners of gift packs for new students. Moreover, free tickets for Konzerthaus Dortmund and vouchers for University Sports were hidden under some of the seats, waiting for their lucky finders. In line with tradition, at the end of the event and as a symbolic kick-off for the start of the academic year, Professor Manfred Bayer, President of TU Dortmund University, booted a soccer ball signed by the BVB squad into the crowd, which a skillful winner caught in midair.