From July 10 to 17, the EHD was transformed into a lively place of international exchange. The “International Science Camp” took place here for the first time and inspired everyone involved.

A total of 37 participants—from bachelor's and master's students to doctoral candidates and experienced scientists—came together to network across disciplines and learn from each other. They traveled from Armenia, Slovakia, Romania, Ukraine, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, bringing with them a wide range of perspectives.

Under the inspiring motto “Creating Spaces: Sustainability and Responsibility in an International Context,” the camp offered exciting workshops in which international guests and German colleagues and students shared different research perspectives with the participants and presented their research and dissertation projects. The participants discussed innovative ideas on sustainability and responsibility and made valuable contacts across national and disciplinary boundaries.

The colorful cultural program also contributed to the special atmosphere: a karaoke evening on the Darmstadt campus, a city tour, a relaxed picnic at the Woog, and excursions to Frankfurt, Treysa, and Marburg provided community, fun, and new insights. A special highlight was the international buffet, which offered culinary insights into the participants' countries of origin.

This unique camp was organized by the scientific committee consisting of Prof. Dr. Michael Vilain, Prof. Dr. Elke Schimpf, Prof. Dr. Gotlind Ulshöfer, and Prof. h.c. Dr. Marina Metz, as well as the International Office of the EHD. The International Science Camp has demonstrated that science thrives on encounters, diversity, and shared visions for a sustainable future.

As part of the DAAD's Eastern Partnerships 2025-2027 program, an inspiring and successful cooperation trip to Armenia took place, focusing on the long-standing partnership with Vanadzor State University in Lori Province – one of the EHD's oldest partners in the DAAD's Eastern Partnerships program.

During their stay, Marina Metz and Elke Schimpf held intensive and forward-looking discussions with the rector, the vice-rector for innovation, transfer, and cooperation, the head of the International Office, and other colleagues from the university. The joint focus was on further deepening cooperation and providing new impetus for future projects. Particularly impressive were the encounters with the students and staff of the International Office, who reported on their everyday academic life with enthusiasm and commitment and provided excellent translation services from Russian into English. This direct and lively interaction made the importance of the partnership even more tangible.

But it wasn't just the productive discussions that made this trip so special – Armenia itself inspired the colleagues across the board. The country fascinates with its majestic mountains, deep gorges, ancient monasteries, and a history that can be felt in every stone and every encounter. The warm hospitality, rich culture, and interesting combination of tradition and modernity made every experience unforgettable.

Another important focus of the trip was establishing contact with the new partner university, The Northern University of Yerevan. In several intensive meetings, the first steps for future cooperation were worked out – a promising start to another interesting academic partnership.
 

In May 2025, Elke Salmen and Marina Metz were delighted to take part in the international week “New European Trends in Psychology & Education” at the renowned Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. The week was dedicated to scientific exchange, international cooperation, and intercultural encounters—an inspiring experience in a city steeped in history and dynamism.

The event featured specialist lectures, workshops, and discussions offering exciting insights into current topics in psychology, university didactics, and educational sciences. Participants from over forty countries presented innovative concepts, new research trends, and practical projects – an ideal environment for looking beyond one's own horizons and gaining new inspiration for one's own work.

A special focus of this trip was on the cooperation meetings for the DAAD project “Eastern Partnerships 2024–2027.” In productive discussions with colleagues and interested students from the partner universities, existing collaborations were deepened and concrete steps for joint projects within the framework of the DAAD program were planned – including mobility measures, joint courses, internships for German and Romanian students and research projects.

As part of an international exchange program between EHD and UKSW in Indonesia, I had the opportunity to spend twelve impressive days in Indonesia. Together with five other students from my university and six students from UKSW, we focused on international social work and the role of social welfare in a global context. The time we spent together not only opened up new perspectives for me, but also created a special bond with the other participants and teachers.

Every day, we were picked up by UKSW, often to the campus, where we had seminars and workshops on intercultural exchange. Each of us also prepared a presentation, mostly on topics from our recognition internships or on social work in Germany. It was exciting that the Indonesian students all came from different disciplines. This diversity led to enriching discussions through which we were able to learn a lot from each other.

I was particularly impressed by the hospitality of the people and the visits to various institutions: We visited a private hospital called Pantiwilasa Hospital Dr. Cipto in Semarang, where we were given a tour and a presentation, and a children's home, which gave us an insight into the reality of many families and the people who work in children's homes in Indonesia. 

We also had the opportunity to visit Prambanan Temple, a magnificent Hindu temple complex whose impressive architecture fascinated us all.

A memorable part of the exchange was our two-day stay in a remote mountain village on a volcano. The simple living conditions and unfamiliar surroundings were a challenge for all of us. After the first night, there was even talk of canceling the second night, but we decided to stay. This decision brought us closer together and gave us valuable insights into the lives of the villagers, and we did not regret our decision. A short hike through the picturesque mountain landscape and the ride on the back of an open truck made these days a special experience.

During the trip, we were repeatedly confronted with the difficult living conditions of many people, especially when we were traveling outside Salatiga or the city center. We drove through slums and saw children working in garbage dumps. These experiences made me realize once again how privileged I was growing up. I have always been interested in social inequalities, but this trip reinforced my desire to pursue a career in development policy and work for change that reduces such inequalities.

On our day off, two Indonesian students and I drove to Semarang. We rented a car and took the opportunity to explore the city and learn more about Indonesia – a wonderful opportunity to discover new things together and process the impressions of the last few days.

The twelve days we spent together almost continuously have led to many friendships. The exchange has given me a lot for my professional future and made me aware of the importance of genuine cooperation between two universities. I look forward to continuing the contact when the Indonesian students come to Germany in April and we continue the intercultural dialogue.

Author: Marie Hubbertz (Student Ambassador BA Social Work, 2024)

From July 19 to 29, 2023, a delegation from the Protestant University of Applied Sciences Darmstadt visited UKSW (Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana) in Salatiga, a pretty little town in Central Java.

The aim of the trip was to officially launch future cooperation between the two Christian-oriented universities. Initial fruitful contacts had already been established in the context of International Week 2021 and International Days 2022. These were then deepened with the help of the United Evangelical Mission (UEM), which once again proved to be a wonderful partner for the EHD.

During the delegation trip, the positive developments initiated in 2021 and 2022 continued. The UKSW planning team made every effort to present the delegation from Germany with a balanced program and to give the visitors the best possible insight into the university structures, campus life, teaching content, and the everyday life of students and teachers—both on and off campus.

The EHD delegation not only visited the spacious and centrally located main campus of UKSW, but also various NGOs and empowerment projects in the Salatiga area and the nearby cultural capital of Java, Yogyakarta. The term “empowerment” is broadly defined in this case – it refers to project approaches with a socially transformative character.

Examples include:

• A coffee plantation operating according to fair principles in the middle of the fertile mountains surrounding Salatiga.
• A school with a vocational branch where young people are trained as mechanics, textile and IT specialists, and accountants.
• an innovatively equipped facility for people with special needs.

In various places, the project staff's holistic view of the topics of “common good” and “social progress” was impressive. Sustainability, medical care, and character building are understood as a holistic concept.

This perspective also reappeared during the international workshop days at UKSW. Teachers from EHD & UKSW presented their respective research perspectives in the fields of social work & diaconia to an interested audience of students and external guests. A successful and enriching event!

During another internal workshop day, moderated by the VEM, the UKSW and the EHD developed joint perspectives for future cooperation in the areas of student and staff exchanges, as well as joint research.

The stay in Indonesia came to a successful end with the signing of the cooperation agreements.

Makasi (thank you!) to all our hosts in Salatiga, Indonesia!

Students from UWC South Africa and EHD enjoyed an exciting study trip in June 2025 (from June 19 to 29, 2025).

Four students and one teacher from UWC, six students from EHD, and I took part in the study trip. The student exchange, which included both a study trip to Cape Town and a visit to UWC in Germany, involved two projects.

The first was a joint research project between the two universities, which investigated the self-positioning of students from both universities on the topics of social inequality, intersectionality, and participation. Of particular interest is the question of the significance of social work teaching content in the context of international encounters and study trips between South Africa and Germany. In addition, the project is investigating the changes in students' attitudes that result from the study trips.

The second project involves the joint development of teaching content and seminars on the topic of “Critical Social Work on Racism.” Both universities benefit from this, as both countries have a turbulent history in this context. Feedback from students and teachers is particularly important in this context. So far, the students' experiences seem promising. The impressions are always lasting and “mind-changing.”

The project is headed by Prof. Nicole v. Langsdorff.