Franco-German Student Exchange 2025 - Integration, Inclusion and sustainable Development

Following the successful first exchange phase in Regensburg in 2024, the second part of the two-year exchange cycle took place in Clermont-Ferrand in May 2025 on the topic of "Animations in student residences: integration, inclusion and sustainable development".

The aim of the exchange was for German and French students to work together in binational groups to develop animations for residents in student residences and for international students in Germany and France. To this end, four German students from Regensburg, Landshut and Deggendorf travelled to Auvergne in the heart of France. In addition to working together, the focus was also on gaining an insight into the French language, culture, gastronomy and student life in Clermont-Ferrand. It was the first visit to Clermont-Ferrand for all of the German students. The exchange gave them the opportunity to broaden their horizons.

Living Franco-German friendship

Due to other commitments and unexpected events, half of the Franco-German student group had to be replaced. However, the new exchange participants settled in very quickly. As soon as they arrived, it became clear that their interest in each other was greater than their initial reticence. They were quickly able to start working together, developing two animations: one in the city of Clermont-Ferrand and one in nature on the Puy de Dôme volcano.

Animations in different terrains: city and nature

After a short introductory round, which gave everyone the opportunity to get to know each other better, they got down to developing two animations. One Franco-German group worked on an animation in the city, the other on an animation in nature.

The city group organised a photo rally with three rounds and increasing levels of difficulty. Three teams, consisting of three people each from Germany and France, competed against each other to solve photo tasks on the central Place de la Victoire. The special twist: one person was blindfolded, another was not allowed to speak and the third was connected to the other two team members. This was intended to integrate the topic of inclusion into the game, as the students' limited mobility and vision meant they had to work closely together to solve the tasks. The rule that the blindfolded team member had to take the photos was particularly challenging.

But the students mastered this challenge brilliantly. Some great shots were taken. In addition to the competition, the focus was of course on having fun playing together and getting to know each other.

The nature group organised a scavenger hunt that consisted of two parts. The topics of integration (interculturality) and sustainability were dealt with in the form of a quiz and a mini-game. The mini-game was a pantomime with typical German and French terms and a task on correct waste separation. Two Franco-German teams competed against each other. Due to the strong wind and the limited visibility on Clermont-Ferrand's home volcano, the Puy de Dôme, these games had to be spontaneously moved indoors, but this did not detract from the fun of the game.

Fortunately, the sky cleared so that the topic of ‘inclusion’ could actually take place outdoors. One team member was blindfolded. His task was to find an object hidden in the neighbourhood faster than the blindfolded team member in the second group. The other team members had to lead the way to the object by calling out ‘warmer’ or ‘colder’.

Fuelled by the ambition to win the game, both teams gave their all. As a result, the limited vision was forgotten for a brief moment.

In any case, the two animations developed were not only fun and games but also thought-provoking. For a brief moment, everyone was able to put themselves in the shoes of a person with a wide variety of limitations. The advantage of the two animations is that they can be offered to all students, with or without disabilities. As a result, the exchange at the end of the week in France will leave a lasting impression in both countries.

A farewell with melancholy

The joint group work and playing in the city and in nature brought the German and French students closer together. By the end of the week at the latest, language barriers and cultural differences no longer played a role. The focus was then on what unites us rather than what divides us.

After five intensive days, the German guests left Clermont-Ferrand to travel home to Regensburg, Landshut and Deggendorf. They were all grateful for the time spent together and the perfect organisation of the week by the Crous Clermont Auvergne. Un grand merci à toutes et à tous !

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Franco-German employee exchange 2025 - Campus living space

In 2025, we began a new two-year staff exchange on the topic of “Campus living space: welcoming and supporting students throughout their studies”. It started with a one-week visit by French employees from the Crous Clermont Auvergne to the university locations Regensburg and Passau, which are managed by the STWNO.

As the topic of “Campus living space” is particularly diverse, seven German and seven French employees from the areas of culture, counseling, housing, financing and student reception met.

From 31.03 to 04-04.2025, the Franco-German group visited various STWNO facilities to find out more about the Studierendenwerk's commitment to revitalizing the campus living space.

Arriving and living at your new place of study

Students who come to Regensburg (or Passau) for the first time to study first need suitable accommodation. In Fort-Skelly-Straße in Regensburg, the STWNO has converted a listed former barracks building into a student residence. In addition to 36 places for students, the residential complex also includes a light-flooded common room and twelve apartments, which are occupied by international guest lecturers from the University of Regensburg. This also makes the residential complex an international guest house. Special features of the residential complex include a historical exhibition that provides information about the varied history of the building and a work of art by Regensburg artist Florian Toperngpong, which provides a tongue-in-cheek insight into the various uses of the building by the Wehrmacht, the US Army and the Bundeswehr.

Many students and lecturers from abroad find a new home in the Fort-Skelly-Straße residential complex. Newcomers to Regensburg also need orientation on campus. The International Office of the University of Regensburg is the first point of contact for all students, lecturers and researchers who come to Regensburg from abroad or who are planning a stay abroad. The head of the International Office, Marianne Sedlmeier, introduced the Franco-German group to the services offered by the International Office and the cooperation with the STWNO.

Her presentation was rounded off with a German and a French tour of the campus, which included the most important points of contact on campus, including the canteen and cafeterias of the Studierendenwerk and the university library.

Cultural and carefree life

The promotion of cultural life is particularly important for a lively campus. The STWNO operates a media studio on the Regensburg campus with an editing room and technical equipment for video and photo projects. In addition, individual musicians, bands and theater groups can book music rehearsal rooms. Last but not least, there is a professionally equipped theater where student theater groups can perform.

There are also suitable exhibition opportunities for visual artists, including the VOR DER GRIEB cultural space in the heart of Regensburg's old town, where the Franco-German group visited a student exhibition entitled “Traum(a)deutung”.

However, the STWNO not only creates the best conditions for student cultural life on campus in Regensburg, but also in Passau. In the photo studio, students will find high-quality equipment, including three powerful flash heads as well as numerous reflectors and backgrounds in different colors, tripods, remote triggers and seating at different heights. Of course, we also take the opportunity to test the possibilities of the photo studio!

The tour of the cultural spaces ended in the KulturSalon 2.0 at Dr. Hans Kapfinger Straße 30, where we were greeted by the brass band “Ohrwaschlschinder”, partly composed of students, with traditional Bavarian sounds.

After this successful cultural interlude, the group visited the student photo exhibition “Bayern im Fokus” on display in the KulturSalon.

In addition to culture, students on campus often also visit the STWNO advice centers, such as the Counselling Student Life. Students can get low-threshold and, of course, free advice on topics such as financing their studies, studying with children, studying with a disability or health and long-term care insurance and nursing care insurance.

Studying often brings with it many changes - a new city, new friends, a new apartment, a new role as a student and a new way of learning. Students who feel overwhelmed by these changes can seek psychological advice from the STWNO. Psychologist Martina Nigl introduced the exchange participants to the psychological counseling services on offer and also presented a practical case study.

The French guests listened intently to the presentations of their German counterparts and asked many questions of interest.

No campus living space without student involvement

Of course, the Studierendenwerk does not revitalize the campus on its own. The decisive factor is student involvement, be it in the areas of culture, advice, international affairs, housing or sustainability. When designing the program, great importance was attached to letting students have their say. In Regensburg, the participants visited a student exhibition, campus tours were offered by student assistants from the International Office and a tutor and the hygiene officer from the Dr.-Gessler-Straße residential complex presented their work to the Franco-German group. They are very committed to community life in the residence and cleanliness in the communal kitchens in order to improve the well-being of all residents.

In Passau, the focus was on cultural life on campus. The university initiative “Kulturtransport” began in summer 2023 with the transformation of the former Ehret company site into a creative space and student meeting place. Today, Kulturtransport offers a stage, event technology, seating, a fire pit, table tennis tables, an urban gardening area and much more.

A special event format was also a “student fair”, where five university groups introduced themselves to the group in an informal atmosphere: the Sustainability Network, Campus Regensburg e.V., Campus Asyl, Nightline Regensburg and the Regensburg University SMD. Each group had its own table where staff and students could talk to each other. Communication is key!

Student aid in communications and return visit next year

There was also a lively exchange of ideas across language and cultural barriers right from the start. The interpreters - all students at the University of Regensburg - contributed significantly to a lively dialog among the participants, be it during shared meals, guided tours or coffee breaks. Thanks to their presence and their familiarity with student issues, many of the topics raised during the numerous visits could be meaningfully categorized and open questions clarified.

Next year, the group will come together again to focus on the topic of “Campus living space” in Clermont-Ferrand. The German participants are already looking forward to learning more about student life in France.

Finally, we would like to thank the Franco-German Youth Office, whose financial support made both exchange programs possible (more information on the Franco-German Youth Office can be found here).