International diversity in research and teaching

There are currently around 240 researchers from over 60 countries registered with the Welcome Service. The doctoral candidates, early career researchers, professors, as well as visiting scholars, come from around the world. A particularly large contingent come from India and China, as well as India, Brazil, and Türkiye. Approximately 77% of international researchers originate from non-EU countries.

The largest group of researchers is composed of doctoral candidates and early-career researchers (postdocs), the majority of which are associated with the Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Engineering (MNTF) and the Faculty of Applied Computer Science (FAI). The number of international researchers at the still relatively young Faculty of Medicine has also increased.

International cooperation in practice: Visit from Japan

The Chair of Differential Geometry demonstrates what internationalisation in research looks like in practice. Prof. Kurando Baba from Tokyo University of Science has been visiting since April. He is spending a sabbatical year with Prof. Peter Quast.

“I chose Augsburg because the city offers an excellent academic environment for research in the area of differential geometry and because my research interests are closely connected with the work of Prof. Peter Quast and his research group. I am looking forward to exchanging ideas with my colleagues in Augsburg, deepening the academic relationship between Germany and Japan, and developing new perspectives for future research,” said Baba at the reception. He is researching special geometrical structures in symmetrical spaces. 

 “I am delighted by Prof. Baba’s research stay. It builds on long-standing successful cooperation with Japanese colleagues. His stay with us in Augsburg is a great academic enrichment,” emphasised Quast.

Welcome Service: A central point of contact

Since July 2013, the Welcome Service, under the direction of Susanne Graf, has supported international researchers at the University of Augsburg. It accompanies researchers at onboarding, helps them find housing, as well as assisting with organisational questions and local integration, among other things.

The Welcome Service also organises numerous interdisciplinary networking events during the semester, including a Stammtisch (regulars’ table), city tours, and excursions. These promote exchange and assist international researchers in quickly settling into life in Augsburg.

Internationalisation in practice

The reception and the intensive support provided by the Welcome Service underscore that internationalisation at the University of Augsburg is not only a strategic aim but also lived in practice in everyday university life, in personal interactions as well as long-term academic cooperations. The Welcome Service creates the necessary conditions for this, ensuring that researchers from around the world can work successfully in Augsburg and sustainably network.