On 21 September 2015, Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences warmly welcomed its new students to the induction week at the Kleve and Kamp-Lintfort campuses. This marked the start of the 2015/2016 winter semester at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences, with a total of around 6,000 students.
Kleve/Kamp-Lintfort, 22 September 2015: The starting signal has been given for a successful degree programme at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences. Around 1,700 students began their studies with the start of the induction week on 21 September at the Kleve and Kamp-Lintfort campuses of Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences. The President of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, Dr Heide Naderer, welcomed more than 1,250 ‘freshers’ to the Audimax on the Kleve campus. In Kamp-Lintfort, too, around 450 first-year students were looking forward to the start of their studies.
“By choosing to study at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences, you have taken a major step towards your future. I wish you every success during your time at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences and am delighted that we can support you as you lay the foundations for a successful academic journey and future,” said the President of Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences, Dr Heide Naderer. “Make the most of the university’s international focus. Network with other students and partners from Germany and abroad. Get to know the university during the induction week and, together with your fellow students, draw plenty of energy and enthusiasm for your time here.”
The welcome address was followed by the presentation of the Teaching Awards by the Vice-President for Student Affairs, Teaching and Continuing Education at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences, Prof. Dr Marion Halfmann, to Prof. Dr Eva Maria Hinterhuber, Professor of Sociology specialising in gender studies at the Faculty of Society and Economics, and to Prof. Dr Franca Ruhwedel, Professor of Finance and Controlling at the Faculty of Communication and Environment.
The President of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences then presented the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) prize, worth 1,000 euros. With the DAAD Prize, the university recognises the outstanding academic achievements of international students who are completing their studies in Germany and who demonstrate remarkable social, community or intercultural engagement. The winner was Genis Panisello-Valldepérez, a sixth-semester student on the Bachelor’s programme in ‘International Relations’ at the Faculty of Society and Economics. In addition to his excellent academic performance, he stands out for his extraordinary social commitment. Since the beginning of 2015, he has been Chair of the International Office of the AStA at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences. In this role, he has taken the lead in organising numerous events for and with international and German students. Among other things, his remit included organising UN Day 2015, which was attended by 300 guests from the university and the town of Kleve. Panisellos builds networks amongst students and beyond into the wider region, thereby helping to integrate international students into the local community. Under his leadership, the AStA’s International Office has grown into a team of more than 20 students; it effectively organises language tandems, maintains contact with the university’s International Office and is responsible for student initiatives such as African Day 2015 and the Festival of Tolerance. The fact that the AStA’s International Office has become such an important hub for integration at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences is largely down to Panisello’s commitment. In addition, he is involved with ‘AIESEC Kleve’, a student organisation dedicated to facilitating international student exchanges, and is a member of the ‘Rhine-Waal Racing’ team.
Finally, the award ceremony organised by the Association for Electrical, Electronic and Information Technologies (VDE) was presided over by Dr.-Ing. Hans Schüßler, Chair of VDE Lower Rhine, who presented the award to the top student on the ‘Electronics’ Bachelor’s programme, Revathy Nair, from the Faculty of Technology and Bionics, and to the top student on the ‘Media and Communication Informatics’ programme, Marwin Wiegard, from the Faculty of Communication and Environment. Every year, VDE Lower Rhine honours students who have achieved particularly good academic results after their first few semesters. Each award winner receives a certificate and prize money of 500 euros. Dr Schüßler emphasised that the academic award is intended to serve as an incentive for high achievement, noting that next year’s award winners were already sitting in the auditorium. Marco Menz, a Master’s student in Electrical Engineering at the Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences in Krefeld, gave a presentation on the VDE and its wide-ranging importance to society, highlighting the regional activities of VDE Niederrhein, such as its support for the Formula Student programme at the universities in Kleve and Krefeld. The VDE also offers students a broad platform for building valuable personal networks that will extend well into their future professional lives.
The induction week ends on 25 September. Until then, there are still numerous activities organised by Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences in Kleve and Kamp-Lintfort on the programme. Information sessions on the individual degree programmes, a campus rally, a city rally, a ‘bar crawl’, a student party and many other events, where first-year students can get to know their university and its campuses, mark the start of an exciting and educational time at university.
Lectures at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences will begin for all students on Monday, 28
September 2015.
