Today's Monday at HWG LU was all about the freshers: almost 800 new students are starting the winter semester at the university; a good half of them attended the traditional freshers' welcome on campus in Ernst-Boehe-Straße today. The central fresher's welcome is the official start of the subsequent induction week; the regular start of lectures is on 25.09.2023.
In the university auditorium, President Prof. Dr. Gunther Piller and Vice Presidents Prof. Dr. Edith Rüger-Muck and Prof. Dr. Nina Knape welcomed the approximately 800 new students (according to preliminary figures) on behalf of the university. Ludwigshafen's mayor Jutta Steinruck and liaison lecturer Prof. Dr. Birgit Angermayer conveyed their greetings and wishes for the start of the semester via a recorded video message. Marketing student Indra Steuer then introduced the new fellow students to the university as a whole and the services offered by the General Students' Committee (AStA). The Studierendenwerk Vorderpfalz and the university chaplaincy also outlined their counseling and support program, before the Institute of Sport presented the broad sports program in cooperation with the University of Mannheim.
"A new phase of life begins with your studies. Get involved - not only in your studies, but also in the self-administration of the university," University President Prof. Dr. Gunther Piller advised the new students, highlighting the familiar atmosphere, the high level of practical relevance and the excellent location of the university in the heart of the metropolitan area Rhine-Neckar. Vice President Prof. Dr. Edith Rüger-Muck then whetted the students' appetite for international encounters and intercultural exchange and presented the Buddy Program and other intercultural participation formats at the university in addition to the opportunities for stays abroad and language courses. At the same time, she cordially invited the first semester students to the Christmas edition of the "Café International" on December 6. "Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world," Vice President Prof. Dr. Nina Knape then gave the new students a quote from Nelson Mandela. At the same time, she made them aware of the privilege and social responsibility associated with a degree course.
Following the central welcome, the first-year students were able to talk to each other over drinks and snacks in the foyer or ask any questions they still had at the information stands: Representatives from the four Departments as well as the International Office and the Bafög office were on hand to answer questions. The AStA, the Departments of Studies & Education, the Equal Opportunities Coordination Office, the Studierendenwerk, the Start-up Office and the University Chaplaincy were also on hand to answer any questions. And of course there were once again the coveted first semester bags with the city's cultural voucher booklet and lots of useful giveaways for all new students. Degree ceremonies were followed by guided tours of the campus.
The rest of the week is also dedicated to the start of studies: there are many other events for new students at degree program and department level under the title "Freshers' Week". On Tuesday, 19.09.2023, at 9.30 a.m., the traditional welcome service will also take place in the auditorium. On 20.09.2023, the AStA invites you to the Ersti-get-together from 6.30 pm and on 6 and 7 October the first semester parties are on the program: together with the DHBW on the Mannheim Maimarkt grounds and on 7.10.2023 in cooperation with RPR and LUKOM then in the Ludwigshafen Eberthalle.
According to preliminary figures, 653 Bachelor's students and 140 Master's students will start their studies at HWG LU in the winter semester. The total number of students is currently around 4,200.
