The second-ever Welcome Day, held this year at Tech.Hub in Düsseldorf on December 5, saw a group of international students and researchers, including full- and part-time MBA students from WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management come together with some of the region’s most prominent organizations. Christian Zaum, Departmental Head of Economics, Law, Fire Service, and Health for Düsseldorf, welcomed to the event some 70 young representatives active at WHU, Heinrich Heine University, the University of Applied Sciences Düsseldorf, the Robert Schumann University, and the Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung. And the goal he shares with the attending institutions and the Chamber of Industry and Commerce of Düsseldorf (IHK Düsseldorf) was clear: to encourage talented academics to stay in Düsseldorf after completing their studies.

“It's important that we offer international students and researchers more than just a solid education,” said Dr. Kai de Weldige, Director of Wissensregion Düsseldorf e.V. “We also want to introduce them, as soon as possible, to the many excellent job opportunities here, where they can put their acquired knowledge to good use at local companies and research institutes.” Over the course of three distinct workshops, participants gained insights into the options that await them in the transition from the academic to the working world. The universities and research institutes, alongside global players such as Henkel, presented a variety of topics, including intercultural training, the job market in Düsseldorf, and matters concerning the local immigration office. Katharina Haxel, a seinor manager at WHU’s Career Center, held sessions on how those new to Germany can best understand the local culture.

These workshops, as well as the tour through the Christmas Market in the city’s historic center, were also a great way for the diverse group of participants to connect. And indeed, the masters students present hailed from all over the globe—from Turkey to Ukraine to Afghanistan and beyond. Welcome Day, alongside Come&Cooperate and the Innovations Semester, is just one of the many initiatives undertaken by these local universities, companies, and civic organizations to ensure the next generation understands how valuable they are and how imperative their professional development is to the region.