FHNW Welcome Days – A successful start for international students

The Welcome Days event for new exchange students at the 10 FHNW Schools took place the week before the start of the semester. Around 80 students from over 20 countries took part in the two-day programme, which offered exciting excursions, information sessions and plenty of opportunities to get to know each other. Highlights included a hike to Sälischlössli in Olten and an interactive visit to Theater Basel.

Sarah Lehmann from the FHNW School of Life Sciences International Office was there to accompany the students. In this interview, she talks about her personal impressions, special moments and why supporting international students is so important to her.

What impressed or surprised you personally during the Welcome Days?

I am always impressed by how quickly the students strike up conversations with each other – despite their very different backgrounds and experiences. They all bring very different perspectives to the table and it’s wonderful to see how open most of them are with each other, without any reservations. It is precisely this diversity that makes the encounters so exciting and enriching.

Was there a special moment or encounter that stuck in your memory?

One highlight was definitely our visit to Theater Basel. Not everyone feels comfortable expressing themselves physically, but the students took on the various "tasks" with great enthusiasm. I thought it was great how they got involved in the exercises – some of them even with real enthusiasm.

How did you find the atmosphere among the new students – reserved, curious, open-minded?

They are all in the same boat: they are in a country that is foreign to most of them, often do not understand the language and have to find their way around a new university and a new city. That creates a bond – and makes them open to approaching each other. Of course, there is a certain nervousness at the beginning which makes it all the more important for us to create a good atmosphere, provide information and encourage interaction. In the end, I found the students to be very positive and open-minded.

What have you taken away from these days for yourself?

I realised once again how much I enjoy being out and about with our international students. At the FHNW School of Life Sciences, we also have various events during the semester, and it's always enriching. Perhaps this is because I studied abroad for a year and know exactly how challenging the first few days and weeks can be. That's why it's important to me that visiting students here get off to a good start and know that they have someone to turn to.