On June 10, international students from various study programs at Fulda UAS came together with regional stakeholders to explore the challenges and opportunities surrounding the integration of international talent in Fulda. Using the Design Thinking Method, participants examinded the topic from different perspectives, shared their personal experiences, and developed ideas for creating a more welcoming and sustainable environment for international students and skilled workers.
The event began with interactive icebreakers designed to help participants get to know one another. One activity invited everyone to place themselves on an imaginary world map, highlighting where they had lived before coming to Germany. Participants also reflected on topics such as the importance of language, access to the job market, and their visions for a future in Fulda. Building on these personal reflections, participants moved into the Empathize phase of the Design Thinking process. They explored the topic from the perspectives of students, regional stakeholders, and higher education institutions, identifying both existing challenges and opportunities. Based on these discussions, each group formulated a specific challenge question before brainstorming and developing possible solutions together.
dialogue between students, universities, employers, and regional organisations
One of the highlights of the event was the diversity of perspectives brought and shared by both international students and regional stakeholders. Their experiences led to thoughtful discussions and showed that career paths are rarely linear. There is no single "right" path, and the personal stories shared throughout the evening demonstrated the many different routes that bring people to a region and shape their academic and professional futures. This discussion was important and the topic prominent, since many smaller regions face the challenge of losing graduates and skilled workers to larger cities with greater perceived opportunities. Therefore, hosting this engagement circus was vital for creating a space for dialogue between students, universities, employers, and regional organisations.
While the event marked only the beginning of this conversation, it generated valuable ideas and strengthened connections between participants. Turning these ideas into meaningful action will require continued collaboration, open dialogue, and long-term commitment. Fulda University of Applied Sciences looks forward to building on the momentum of this event and continuing to explore this important topic through future Local Engagement Circus formats.
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Article created by: Fulda UAS
