"Our international university members shape the University of Bremen every day – students, academics, and staff alike. Without them, our campus would not be as diverse, dynamic, or cosmopolitan as it is. International Day makes this visible in a special way," said Mandy Boehnke, Vice President for International Affairs, Academic Qualification, and Diversity, at the start of the event. This diversity was reflected in the various activities on offer on International Day: Visitors were able to take part in yoga classes, get a henna tattoo, or taste Arabic teas and breads from different countries. The International Office of the university provided information about its services, as did the university alliance YUFE (Young Universities for the Future of Europe), the Languages Centre of Universities in the Land of Bremen, the “Evangelische Studierendengemeinde Bremen”, the STUBE Nord (study support program of the Diakonie Hamburg for northern Germany), and the AStA Students' Union.
Urban Gardening Project Presented
The International Day also offered interested parties the opportunity to find out more about the university's urban gardening project: Behind SFG Building, the AstA Students' Union, the International Office's kompass team, and students from a wide range of fields of study and nationalities have created a garden. With the help of the university's apprentice carpenters, four pallet beds were set up and planted with berry bushes and an apple tree, to name just a few of the plants. The project aims to create a meeting place that provides a respite from academic stress. At the same time, it addresses several sustainability goals.
Visitors were also able try the new "Uni Bremen Curry Dip" spice mix, which was created in collaboration between the kompass program and Bremer Gewürzhandel.
The International Day was organized by the International Office, the student kompass team, the Senior Citizens of the Academy of Continuing Education, the Muslim University Association, as well as international student communities from the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Bangladesh, India, China, and Vietnam. The International Day looks back on a long tradition: It has been held every two years since 2012.