Make your first contacts!

The International Welcome Party took place on March 19 at the DeziBar and offered new international students—especially those from the Studienkolleg —a warm welcome in a friendly atmosphere. The event began around 6:00 p.m. with a brief round of introductions between HSZG staff and the new students to help them get to know one another. A highlight of the evening was the slideshow, which introduced Zittau and Görlitz—the university’s two campuses—and presented valuable information as well as points of interest in our region.

Refreshments were well taken care of: A lavish buffet featuring vegetarian, vegan, and halal-certified dishes—which, out of respect for Ramadan, wasn’t opened until after 7:00 p.m.—offered something for every taste. At the same time, a karaoke session began in the adjacent room, providing additional entertainment.

Fun Singing Karaoke Together

As the evening progressed, the singing session unexpectedly turned into a lively dance party, with the students enthusiastically joining in. This spontaneous shift heightened the cheerful atmosphere and made the evening even more unforgettable. It wasn’t just the students who had a great time; the faculty and staff in attendance were also swept up in the excitement.

Overall, the International Welcome Party helped international students settle in and make new friends in a relaxed and fun environment.

A big thank you goes out to everyone who helped organize the event, especially the former Prorectorate for Education and International Affairs and the International Office for their wonderful support.

This event impressively demonstrated how important a warm welcome is for a successful start to one’s studies!

Text: Zhi Han Goh & Cristiano Marcellino