33 men and women started the newly designed orientation year for refugees at the university at the beginning of April. They want to prepare for university studies in Germany.
The University of Oldenburg held a ceremony to welcome the first refugees who have enrolled for the new orientation year. The majority of the 28 men and five women have come to Oldenburg from Syria. Over the course of up to three semesters, the university prepares them to take up specialised studies at a German university.
"The orientation year is a novelty and a challenge for us," said Prof Dr Sabine Kyora, Vice President for Studies, Teaching and Gender equality, at the welcoming address and then turned directly to the course participants, for whom her words of welcome were simultaneously translated: "We want you to find your place with us, to integrate - and we also want to benefit from you in the best sense of the word. You bring with you a potential that is good for both our society and the international perspective of Carl von Ossietzky University."
The aim of the orientation year is to provide participants with all the necessary skills for specialised studies and thus enable quick access to the German higher education system. The programme comprises four pillars: "German as an academic language", "Subject-specific references", "Academic work" and "Support, advice and integration".
A clear focus of the university's orientation year is on language acquisition. Course participants spend a large part of their time on intensive language training, which concludes with the DSH exam, the German language test for university entrance.
From the very first semester, they also learn the basics of academic work - in specially designed courses offered in German, English and Arabic. In addition to this, they can take part in guest student programmes and thus gain subject-specific orientation. Furthermore, the university and student services counselling centres as well as various volunteer initiatives offer a whole range of services and leisure activities to support students and integrate them into campus life.
The orientation year starts for the first time this summer semester, with further cohorts planned for the winter and summer semesters. Interested parties who can provide proof of a current refugee background, a university entrance qualification and basic German language skills can apply. Course participants will be enrolled as guest students, as this status allows access to higher education even during an ongoing asylum procedure. Participants in the orientation year receive a certificate for their achievements.
