Uni Kassel welcomes first semester students - New venue in the city center

The UNI:Lokal in Wilhelmsstraße will be an open event and exhibition space that connects with the urban community. The SDG+ Lab, a regional sustainability laboratory, is also moving in. It will present itself to the public from November 15 to 18, 2023 with an opening festival lasting several days.

"It is our aim to have an impact on society with our research findings," emphasized University President Prof. Dr. Ute Clement. "This applies not only, but in particular, to everything that contributes to a more sustainable world. The upheavals we are facing are enormous. We should tackle them together. We therefore invite all interested parties to join us for a discussion in the new UNI:Lokal."

Teaching at German universities is also characterized by upheaval. Teachers and students will be discussing the impact of artificial intelligence on studies during a themed week entitled "AI in Teaching" from November 6 to 10. For one week, AI will be the central topic in every course, and there will also be discussion events at the Campus Center on Holländischer Platz and at the Kunsthochschule.

Ute Clement welcomed the new students to the University of Kassel. The President called on the young people to take an active part in AI Week and to get involved throughout the duration of their studies at the university. "Universities thrive on participation," she said, referring to university autonomy. "Universities are also schools of democracy, in which civil and public interest-oriented forms of decision-making are practised."

The trend of declining student numbers is continuing this year. According to preliminary figures, 21,842 students are enrolled at the University of Kassel in the current winter semester (22/23: 23,006). 4,311 young people are studying in their first semester (4,637). The number of international students is 2,976 (3,135). All figures are provisional and could rise slightly. Exact data is expected in mid-November.

"On the one hand, the lower number of enrolled students opens up opportunities to provide students with closer support," commented Ute Clement. "On the other hand, we want to stabilize the scale in which we are now operating, even if this will not become any easier due to demographics and employers' increased search for trainees and skilled workers. We have already taken steps to achieve this: For example, we are strengthening our degree course marketing and specifically recruiting good minds; we have set up our own marketing unit for this purpose. We are also constantly updating our range of degree courses."

This year, the university is offering Master's students a new English-language Master's in Agriculture, Ecology and Societies: It combines agricultural sciences with knowledge of economics and social sciences and prepares graduates for jobs in associations or agricultural transition projects, for example. In addition, some courses have been redesigned, such as the Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, which has been completely revamped and strengthened with a focus on sustainability and digitalization, among other things.

You can watch a video message from the President here.