The FIT4Germany project supports international students on their way through their studies and into working life. THWS uses innovative approaches to promote integration and strengthen the regional labour market at the same time.
Published on 26 May 2025
Around 2,700 international students from over 80 countries study at the Würzburg-Schweinfurt University of Applied Sciences (THWS). The FIT4Germany project was launched last year to provide them with the best possible support during their studies in Germany. The project is funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) until the end of 2028. The cross-departmental and cross-faculty project at THWS is organised by the International Office, the Campus for Professional Development and Language Proficiency, and the Faculty of Applied Social Sciences.
FIT4Germany aims to keep international talent in the region and thus alleviate the shortage of skilled labour. "The idea is that if someone has already built a life here in the Mainfranken region during their studies, it will be easier for them to find work here later - which in turn strengthens the region," explains Martin Gleißner, employee with the International Office and coordinator of the project. In order for this to succeed, THWS endeavours to recruit suitable young people at an early stage so that they decide to study here. FIT4Germany promotes various measures with the aim of increasing the number of international students, to increase their academic success and thus the number of graduates and ultimately facilitate their transition into working life. This in turn strengthens the labour market in the region of Mainfranken and Germany.
Preparation is key
Good preparation is crucial for a successful degree programme. "In the project, we are endeavouring to set up so-called preparatory classes, which prepare prospective international students in their countries for studying at THWS by giving them the necessary language skills and specialised knowledge that are comparable to a German Abitur," says Gleißner. At the start of their studies, first-year students then attend orientation days where they can receive lots of information about the day-to-day and studying at THWS. For example, they receive support in dealing with the authorities, opening a bank account, or taking out health insurance, as well as with study-related topics such as exam registration or semester re-registration. Intercultural trainings at the start of the programme inform the first-semester students what studying in Germany entails. "That behaviour and reactions can differ depending on the culture," says Gleißner. In addition, the "Welcome to Mainfranken" event is organised every semester to help first-year students network with each other.
Students' social commitment
During their studies, international students also get a great deal of support. The Campus of Professional Development and Language Proficiency, for example, offers free German courses at levels B2 and C1 as part of the project, specialised language courses and, from the Summer semester 2025 also offers dual language courses combined with guided tours of companies.
The Coordinating Unit for Service Learning is also located with the Campus for Professional Development and Language Proficiency. Here, international students have the opportunity to actively participate in community service projects. Anca Aicha, research associate at THWS and responsible for the coordination office, emphasises: "The cooperation with local organisations, associations and social institutions enables our international students to gain valuable practical experience and get involved in the community."
The significance of these experiences and the students' reasons for choosing the general elective "Service Learning: Connect-Reflect" become obvious each semester. "Many students are motivated to make new contacts, gain new experiences outside of the regular curriculum, improve their German language skills, learn new ways of work, or to volunteer – just as they did back home," Aicha explains. For example, the students organised a games night with Caritas for senior citizens or a scavenger hunt with the Child Protection Association (Kinderschutzbund) on the topic of children's rights. "The Campus for Professional Development supports integration into the company and networking during the degree programme," says Aicha. "At the same time, service learning promotes social integration by enabling students to make contacts with society. Not only your prospective job matters, but also that you feel part of the community, because that is when people tend to stay."
Another programme offered as part of the FIT4Germany project is the workshop "Visual Thinking meets AI: Designing creative ideas in 3D". Students and employees from regional companies can take part in a teamwork model. In tandems, they immerse themselves in the world of 3D modelling, create visualisations and present their results to an audience.
By students for students
The Faculty of Applied Social Sciences, in turn, is revitalising FIT4Germany with the so-called peer-to-peer projects. These are organised by students in the bachelor’s degree programme Social Work specialising in "Social Work in the Migration Society" in the sixth and seventh semesters. The projects include a cross-university buddy programme and an online language café where students can improve their language skills outside of class. "In the summer semester 2024 and as part of the peer-to-peer information project, we held an information event on the subject of 'Studying and training in Germany' for unaccompanied underage refugees," reports Anca Aicha. This was followed in the winter semester by another event with information about studying at THWS and life in Germany for the international students. There is also a peer-to-peer media group. In collaboration with the International Office, this group has created various explanatory videos for international students, for example on the subject of university entrance qualifications or health insurance. The group is also responsible for the project's Instagram channel.
Local companies are also involved in FIT4Germany. "There are various collaborations with companies where we organise company tours, or we invite HR managers to hold job application training sessions," explains Martin Gleißner. Career fairs such as Study & Stay or the Career Meet-up event are also organised. "There, students have the opportunity to meet HR managers and apply directly," says Gleißner. The THWS Career Service also helps students with workshops on topics such as job interviews, salary negotiations, business etiquette, and assessment centres.
In order to measure the success of FIT4Germany, those responsible want to create an analysis of student's progress. As only limited information may be used, Martin Gleißner sees this as the biggest challenge. "The important thing with our programmes is consistency." A project ends after a few years when the funding period has expired, but the task remains. "Our challenge is to continue these tasks even after the project has ended."
