SWiTCH RT

With its revamped programme called PROFIN (Programm zur Förderung der Integration ausländischer Studierender - Programme to Support the Integration of Foreign Students), the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) hopes to prompt a fundamental change in the relationship between German universities and their international students, moving away from simple support measures towards active integration.  

In the autumn of 2008, universities with innovative projects were invited to apply for funding. The Reutlingen proposal  for the integration of international students under the project name SWiTCH^RT was accepted by the committee and is to be funded as one of the 35 pilot programmes .

SWiTCH^RT is an integrated concept covering the social, academic, linguistic and cultural integration of international and German students, and will be carried out in cooperation with a range of other groups and units within the University. The Switch^RT project consists of a number of elements:

• Students4Students

  A tutoring programme for the integration of international students. Reutlingen students help new international students begin their studies and get used to everyday life in Reutlingen. Furthermore, they organize parties, film and game nights, sporting events, and much more. If you would like to join Students4Students, please contact us at switch‎@‏‏reutlingen-university.de

• Language 
  In addition to the regular language courses on offer, SWiTCH^RT offers the following (in English and German): workshops on writing applications, giving presentations and class papers, academic writing; individual advice on written assignments; and a Language Tandem for all staff and students at the university.

• Workshops
  There are country-specific workshops for study abroad preparation on China, Japan, Latin Amerika, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, and the USA, as well as workshops on intercultural management, intercultural training for academic and other staff, and creative workshops led by art specialists. 
• (Business) English Theatre
  Students can practise their business English skills in a different and relaxed way in our international theatre project.
• Working group on Integration
  In order to better coordinate and combine the University's integration measures, those involved with the project have combined forces to form a Working Group on integration. They discuss and s hare information regarding new measures, exchange ideas, and plan the comung semester.