More than 4500 students will start their studies at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in the 2013/2014 winter term. As a tradition, KIT welcomes them by a big event: This year, it will take place on Friday, October 18, 18 hrs, at the Schwarzwaldhalle of the Karlsruhe Congress Center.
Gathering first impressions, establishing new contacts, familiarizing with the most important information offices: This is what the freshmen did in the past days during the orientation phases organized by the student representatives of their departments. The opportunities resulting from studies at KIT will be presented to them by KIT President Holger Hanselka: “There is no other place in Germany, where students are so close to big research. KIT offers unique opportunities, which is also a result of increased integration of scientists from Campus North into education.” It is one of his objectives as new KIT President to further increase the mobility of the students within KIT for them to use the large-scale research facilities much more than before.
As in the past year, the total number of students will presumably be on the same high level of about 24,000. However, enrolment and move-up procedures are still in progress. The reference date for the statistics is November 30. This year, about 22,800 applications for starting studies at KIT were submitted.
Similar to past years, the courses with restricted admission that were in highest demand were the traditionally strong bachelor programs in engineering, natural sciences, and economics. 3,300 applications were received for business engineering and 2,300 applications for mechanical engineering. Interest in architecture has increased considerably, with the applications now totaling 1,200. 900 applications were submitted for the program “Science, Media, Communication” that was introduced one year ago.
“Activities of many students at KIT extend far beyond their studies,” says Alexander Wanner, KIT Vice President for Higher Education and Academic Affairs. “In student representations and university groups with a cultural, social or scientific focus, they enrich and shape the campus life at KIT.” Wanner will honor 57 of them for their high commitment during the freshmen welcome event.
For a good start, the freshmen will be given the KIT backpack: Apart from information material about major KIT institutions, the General Students Committee, and the Studentenwerk, it will also contain information and give-aways of the backpack sponsors. Important information for starting studies, about central institutions, and services and counseling offers of KIT is summarized in the brochure “Was Studierende wissen sollten”: http://www.kit.edu/mediathek/print_forschung/Broschuere_Erstsemester_de.pdf.
The online students magazine clickIT will also be issued at the beginning of the lecturing period. Under www.kti.edu/clickit, it supplies latest news and background information, with audio interviews, films (www.kit.edu/youtube), and discussions (www.kit.edu/facebook). Every issue covers a topic selected by the facebook community. During the welcome event at the Schwarzwaldhalle, the magazine will be presented by the editorial staff at one of the booths.
At other booths, various KIT institutions, university groups, and partners will inform about their offers and be pleased to answer questions. In addition, the KIT collection will be presented: Clothing, office articles, and gifts in KIT design may also be obtained at www.kit-shop.de or at the bookstore on Kronenplatz.
Program of the Freshmen Welcome Event
Start: 18 hrs, admission from 17.15 hrs
Musical Opening by the KIT Big Band
Conductor: Dr. Günter Hellstern
Welcome by the Presidential Committee
“Excellent Research – Excellent Education: Studying at KIT”
Professor Holger Hanselka, KIT President
Welcome Address by the City of Karlsruhe
First Mayor Margret Mergen
Welcome Address by the UStA Chairman
“From Students for Students”
Noah Fleischer
Prizes for Outstanding Student Commitment
Professor Alexander Wanner, KIT Vice President for Higher
Education and Academic Affairs
Freshmen Quiz
Cabaret with Sascha Korf
After the Program:
Visit of Information Booths and Get-together
With KIT professors at the entrance hall of Schwarzwaldhalle
Being “The Research University in the Helmholtz Association”, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 10,000 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 22,800 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence.