Rector Prof. Dr. Katja Rade and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Lutz Gaspers, Vice-Rector for Studies and Teaching, warmly welcomed the new students of the summer semester 2021 in an online event on March 8.

367 young women and men have enrolled for the summer semester in one of the 14 HFT Bachelor's degree programmes for the summer semester 2021, 126 are starting their Master's degree. However, the preparation week is primarily intended as an orientation aid for all those coming to Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences for the first time. 375 people who are now starting or continuing their studies at HFT Stuttgart had logged into the online event via zoom for the official welcome and the start of the preparation week. A varied day awaited them. They got to know the university and the people responsible for the respective study programmes better and received important information before starting their studies. The event was moderated by Mirjana Gajic, Head of the Didactics Centre. Her team was available to answer questions via Zoom Chat throughout the day. Marketplace of opportunities

After the welcome by the Rectorate, the first-year students moved into so-called break-out sessions, where they were welcomed by the respective study programmes. Afterwards - back in the main room of the event - important information about studying followed on the part of the examination office. Those who wanted to could visit the information market offered from the afternoon onwards. At this "marketplace of opportunities", the first-year students were informed about great offers outside of their studies that make student life more exciting and varied, such as foreign language and soft skills offers, stays abroad, university sports or even internal university activities, such as "HFT goes Green", a student project for more sustainability at the university. Perhaps not quite as exciting, but mandatory was or is the participation in a safety briefing before the start of studies. The participation is mandatory and must be proven before the students receive their computer access data for the HFT Stuttgart.

Whoever still wanted to know which learning type he or she is, could take part in the offer "Lernen lernen" (learning to learn) of the Didaktikzentrum. With the help of the so-called learning type analysis, students were given the opportunity to learn more about their own learning and to deal with learning techniques and strategies. Studying in hybrid mode

Thus informed and strengthened, the studies can begin well for all freshmen. They can expect to study in the so-called hybrid mode. This means that the semester first begins and is carried out online. Wherever possible, there will be face-to-face teaching. The university management attaches extraordinary importance to the fact that the study is carried out in great security for all in accordance with the regulations currently in force. "However, we hope that we will be able to meet you all in presence at the college on May 10 at the beginning of the excursion week. We, the university management and all employees, are very much looking forward to that," says Katja Rade.

Publish date: 08. March 2021
By Michaela Leipersberger-Linder (michaela.leipersberger-linder@hft-stuttgart.de)