Lots of new faces, some looking rather nervous, to be seen in the university town of Geisenheim: On Monday October 15, 2018 around 360 new students gathered in the Rheingau atrium for Hochschule Geisenheim University’s official welcome event for the first semester students where they were given a warm reception by the President’s Council, the lecturers and representatives of the University’s General Student Committee (AStA). In his address Prof. Dr. Otmar Löhnertz, Vice-President of Academic and Student Affairs, stressed that “for us you’re Geisenheimers right from day one, and not only after you graduate. …. The special thing about studying at Geisenheim is the strong practical element. Here you won’t learn static formulae: we’ll make sure that you understand the bigger picture so that after you graduate you’ll be able to survive in the real world.”
Christian Assmann, mayor of the university town, also took the opportunity to personally welcome the new students: “I’m delighted you’re all here and look forward to working together with you to make the university town of Geisenheim even more attractive for students. Please, get involved, integrate and become part of the life of the town.” His welcome address was followed by those of Peter Seyffardt, President of the Rheingau Winegrowers’ Association, and Roger Baumeister, Vice-President of the VEG – Geisenheim Alumni Association e.V. who, like the University President Prof. Dr. Hans Reiner Schultz, encouraged the new students to make use of the Geisenheim network with its 3000 alumni, over 1000 cooperating businesses and more than 140 partner institutions all over the world to find internships, organize stays abroad or simply to swap experiences.
Hochschule Geisenheim University awards DAAD-Prize 2018 to Qiuyue Cheng
Hochschule Geisenheim University also used the welcome event for first semester students to present Qiuyue Cheng with the DAAD-Prize 2018. The prize of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is endowed with 1000 Euros and is awarded to international students or PhD candidates who demonstrate outstanding academic achievements and exceptional social commitment. Cheng, who comes from China and is currently in the 5th semester of the International Wine Business degree course at Hochschule Geisenheim University, has been actively involved in public youth work as an educational assistant at Geisenheim’s youth center since the beginning of 2017.
The DAAD Prize has been awarded for over ten years now and aims to give faces to the large numbers of international students at German universities and link them with their stories. It demonstrates that all international students take a piece of Germany back home with them and also leave part of themselves behind in Germany – a real asset for both sides.
Orientation week offers a varied program including WeinKULTour
After the official welcome with simultaneous English translation for the international students the new students had the chance to discover what the campus had to offer: University Sports, the Studentenwerk Frankfurt, the Language Center and the AStA were only some of the groups and services that showcased themselves. In the afternoon members of staff from all sections of the university showed the new students around the campus. Taking in the FACE facility, the Beverage Technology Center and historical park landscapes, the tour ended up in Villa Monrepos where the students were treated to a Sekt reception organised by the VEG.
Besides other orientation events, a rally and the first semester party, the students also have the opportunity of exploring the Rheingau on a coach tour this coming Friday. Due to the resounding success of its debut in 2017, the university is also offering the WeinKULTour at the start of the current winter semester, in cooperation with Kulturland Rheingau – in particular the Rheingau-Taunus Kultur und Tourismus GmbH. On Friday October 19, 2018 two coaches will take the students on a tour to Johannisberg Castle, Vollrads Castle and Kloster Eberbach Monastery; tastings, packed lunch and a professional guide are all included.
