They were launched at the University of Oldenburg in the 2007/2008 winter semester: Uni-Lotsen. Uni-Lotsen are volunteers who guide and support international students and students from migrant backgrounds in their everyday life at university.
The project was initiated and launched by Prof. Dr Rolf Meinhardt, an expert in migration education who passed away in 2010. At today’s celebration marking the project’s fifth anniversary, Winfried Schulz-Kaempf, a research assistant at the Institute of Educational Sciences and the project coordinator, welcomed around 60 Uni-Lotsen and guests to the university. The event was also attended by Jürgen Ruppert, a representative of the Lower Saxony Ministry for Social Affairs, Women, Health and Integration, and Prof. Dr Bernd Siebenhüner, Vice-Chancellor of the university.
“The drop-out rate among international students and students from migrant backgrounds is disproportionately high. They face many challenges. As well as language barriers, these include difficulties in organising their studies and making ends meet. But also social isolation and discrimination,” explained Schulz-Kaempf. The Uni-Lotsen tackle these problems, and their voluntary work cannot be praised highly enough, said the education expert.
The Uni-Lotsen essentially comprise three groups: international students in their later semesters, students on intercultural degree programmes, and visiting students. They help with integration into university life, provide support with dealing with the authorities, finding jobs and work placements, or with academic assignments. The International Coffee Hour has now also become a regular feature, providing an opportunity for international students to chat and network with fellow students. The university guides thus complement the services offered by the International Student Office (ISO) and other university departments. Training to become a University Guide has taken place in three intakes since 2007, funded by the Lower Saxony Ministry of Social Affairs. Over the past five years, more than 60 volunteers have qualified as University Guides.