At the beginning of April, 33 men and women began the newly designed orientation year for refugees at the university. They wish to prepare for a university degree in Germany.
The University of Oldenburg held a ceremony to welcome the first refugees who have enrolled on the new orientation year. The 28 men and five women have mostly come to Oldenburg from Syria. Over a period of up to three semesters, the university will prepare them to undertake specialised studies at a German university.
“The orientation year represents a new initiative and a challenge for us,” said Prof. Dr Sabine Kyora, Vice-President for Student Affairs, Teaching and Gender Equality, during her welcome address, before addressing the course participants directly, for whom her remarks were simultaneously interpreted: “We want you to find your place here and integrate – and in doing so, we also hope to benefit from you in the best possible sense. You bring with you a potential that will benefit both our society and the international outlook of Carl von Ossietzky University.”
The aim of the orientation year is to equip participants with all the necessary skills for specialised studies, thereby enabling them to gain rapid access to the German higher education system. The programme comprises four key areas: ‘German as a language of academia’, ‘Subject-specific content’, ‘Academic work’ and ‘Support, guidance and integration’.
A clear focus of the university’s orientation year is on language acquisition. Course participants therefore spend a large part of their time on intensive language training, culminating in the DSH examination – the German language test for university admission.
From the very first semester, they also learn the basics of academic work – in specially designed modules offered in German, English and Arabic. In addition, they can take part in guest student programmes, helping them to find their academic direction. Furthermore, the university’s and Studentenwerk’s advisory services, as well as various voluntary initiatives, offer a wide range of programmes and leisure activities to support students and integrate them into campus life.
The orientation year begins for the first time this summer semester, with further cohorts planned for the winter and summer semesters respectively. Applications are open to those who can demonstrate that they are recent refugees, hold a qualification for university admission and possess basic German language skills. Course participants are enrolled as guest students, as this status allows access to higher education even whilst an asylum application is pending. Participants in the orientation year receive a certificate recognising their achievements.
