"Don’t leave us out in the rain"

Leibniz Universität supports housing campaign launched by the Science Initiative

They encounter prejudice, have virtually no contacts in Hannover and have little time to search for affordable accommodation before term starts: international students have great difficultly finding a room in Hannover. The Hannover Science Initiative is now appealing to private landlords to offer accommodation to international students within the "Don''t leave us out in the rain" campaign.

Posters and postcards showing music student Eszter (25) and mechatronics student Anas (25) tell of the difficulties encountered by the 5,500+ international students who have come to the state capital to study or do a PhD. An extra member of staff at Hannover Student Services will now endeavour to establish contacts between landlords and international students, clarifying questions in advance. Leibniz Universität - home to some 3,000 international students - supports the campaign.

Hannover Student Services is an important partner when it comes to housing and integrating international students. Even now, almost 60 per cent of the 2,300 places in student residences are allocated to students from abroad.

The higher education institutions, Student Services and the state capital are supported by associations and the housing industry. For example, the Gesellschaft Bauen und Wohnen Hannover (GBH) will reserve a certain number of rooms for international students in its new building projects. Haus + Grundeigentum Hannover, Gundlach and the Lower Saxony Verband der Wohnungs- und Immobilienwirtschaft have decided to put students from abroad in direct contact with their members.

Background:

One year ago, the state capital of Hannover was chosen by the Bertelsmann Stiftung to be a pilot region for establishing a welcoming culture for international students. By the end of 2016, the higher education institutions, Student Services, the Employment Agency, Gesellschaft für Bauen und Wohnen mbH, students and the city of Hannover will have jointly developed measures related to the core activities of integration, accommodation, anti-discrimination, "Study and Stay" and access to higher education by refugees. A national network meeting with eleven other university cities enables them to exchange information about best practices.

All of Hannover''s higher education institutions, Hannover Student Services, Fraunhofer ITEM, the Geocentre, the Volkswagen Foundation, hannoverimpuls GmbH and the state capital of Hannover are actively involved in the Hannover Science Initiative. The network has been coordinated by the "Science City of Hannover" division of the Lord Mayor''s Office since 2007.

For more information, please visit www.wissen.hannover.de and www.science-hannover.de.

Interested landlords should contact Hannover Student Services:
Birte Wiedenroth
0511 76 88 069
zimmer@studentenwerk-hannover.de
Monday to Friday: 09:00 to 13:00