International Winter University opens
13 Jan 2026
21 students from seven countries are now spending three weeks as guests on the campus of Fulda University of Applied Sciences.
Fulda University of Applied Sciences welcomed 21 international students from Australia, Africa and Europe to the opening of the 13th International Winter University (IWU) on Monday. The three-week program combines academic teaching with intercultural exchange and offers participants the opportunity to learn about key social, cultural and linguistic topics from an international perspective. In addition, the students are familiarised with Fulda and the region and gain an insight into the German higher education system.
The participants come from seven countries and different academic disciplines. Many are visiting Europe or Germany for the first time. Students from Queensland in Australia, Hessen's partner region, are strongly represented this year. On the initiative and with the support of a former participant from South Africa, Percy Koji, four students from the South African University of Mpumalanga were able to attend. University President Prof Dr Karim Khakzar warmly welcomed three students from the partner university Sumy State University in Ukraine, who made it to Fulda despite the ongoing Russian attacks.
In his speech, Khakzar emphasised the importance of encounters between young people from all over the world in view of the difficult geopolitical situation and the multitude of conflicts and wars. "During the three weeks together, the participants get to know each other, they exchange ideas, they learn a lot about each other and friendships are formed, some of which last a long time. We are firmly convinced that, in addition to academic education, this also makes a perhaps modest but important contribution to international understanding and a more peaceful coexistence," Khakzar continued to emphasise. An important goal of the IWU, which is sponsored by the Hessian Ministry of Research, Art and Culture, is to strengthen intercultural competences, specialise academic knowledge and support international exchange. The city of Fulda and the district of Fulda as well as several sponsoring associations also support the IWU with scholarships.
Participants are supported by a Buddy Programme
The academic programme comprises courses on topics such as Intercultural Competence, Business and German Culture and Society. Students also take part in German language courses at various levels, in which they expand their language skills and use them in practice. The team of instructors is also international. Some lecturers have been coming to Fulda from partner universities in the USA for the weeks of the International Winter University for many years.
The programmes offered are complemented by an extensive field trip and social programme. Participants manage field trips to Berlin, Weimar, Eisenach and Würzburg, among other places, where they visit historical, political and cultural places of learning. The excursions enable them to combine theoretical content from the seminars with concrete impressions on site. Joint leisure activities and meeting formats also support intercultural exchange outside the seminar room. Throughout the duration of the programme, participants are accompanied by a Buddy Programme that supports intercultural dialogue between students.
Further information can be found at hs-fulda.de/international/international-office/exchange-students/short-term-programmes/international-winter-university-iwu
About the International Winter University
The International Winter University is organised by the International Office of Fulda University of Applied Sciences. Prof. Dr. Uwe Hunger is the academic director, Judith Tornier is the organisational coordinator, supported by an international team of tutors and employees of Fulda University of Applied Sciences. Together, they accompany the international guests during their stay and ensure that the program runs smoothly. The International Winter University is an integral part of the internationalisation strategy of Fulda University of Applied Sciences. It offers international students an intensive insight into academic work in Germany and at the same time creates space for intercultural learning, personal exchange and sustainable international networks. Many participants remain connected to the university beyond the course - for example through university studies at Fulda University of Applied Sciences, as instructors or as sponsors.
About Fulda University of Applied Sciences
There are 9500 students at Fulda University of Applied Sciences. More than 170 professors teach and conduct research in eight departments. Fulda University of Applied Sciences is one of the strongest research universities for applied sciences in Germany. There are more than 60 study programmes to choose from at Fulda University of Applied Sciences - including offers that are unique in Germany. In addition to Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes in attendance and full-time, integrated training programmes, part-time and dual study programmes are also offered. In 2016, Fulda University of Applied Sciences became the first university of applied sciences in Germany to be awarded doctoral degrees independently. The university's internationalisation strategy is reinforced by its membership of the European University Alliance E³UDRES².