15 Years of the Welcome Center |

Since 2010, the University of Mannheim’s Welcome Center has helped international researchers settle in, quickly establishing itself as their first point of contact.

Many people associate the Welcome Center primarily with the Guesthouse and the International Meeting Center (IBZ)—but that is only part of the story. While the Guesthouse, managed by Uwe Fruth, offers temporary accommodation for international guests and the IBZ serves as a venue for events and networking, the Welcome Center’s services go far beyond that. It is the central contact point for anyone coming from abroad to the University of Mannheim: international researchers, visiting scholars, and their families.

Since May 2023, Dr. Johanna Fernández Castro has been leading the Welcome Center. Together with Julia Potapov, Sayuri Drengemann, and Ann-Kathrin Puttenat, she supports the university’s international guests from their first contact until the end of their stay in Mannheim, assisting with all bureaucratic hurdles—from visas and registration to administrative appointments. “By working closely with internal partners like the human resources division and the chairs as well as external institutions such as the foreigner’s office, the Welcome Center offers a comprehensive range of services that truly sets the University of Mannheim apart,” says Dr. Fernández Castro.

Thanks to professional support—from visa applications to finding accommodation to integrating into university life—Mannheim has become a preferred destination for international researchers, doctoral candidates, and visiting scholars. Yet, the Welcome Center not only assists the researchers themselves but also supports their families. This increases the willingness to stay in Mannheim long-term, a crucial factor for retaining highly qualified professionals at the university and in the region.

Dr. Yevhen Tsymbalenko, who came to the University of Mannheim from Ukraine in 2024 and is currently an academic staff member at the Institute for Media and Communication Studies, describes his experience with the Welcome Center: “Before our arrival, the Welcome Center provided all the necessary documents for my stay as a visiting scholar. It helped my family and me complete all the forms required for registration at the local residents’ registration office, gave us detailed information on enrolling our children in school, and prepared us for meetings with the foreigners’ office. Thanks to this comprehensive support, we were able to avoid many of the typical challenges associated with moving to a new country. This allowed us to settle in quickly in our new environment and focus on becoming part of the university community.”

The work of the Welcome Center is more important than ever. The proportion of international academic staff members has risen in recent years to 17 percent and is set to increase further. Between 2010 and 2025, the Welcome Center has supported approximately 2,850 research mobilities. Currently, it assists around 250 researchers.

The success stories of the Welcome Center demonstrate how targeted support makes internationalization tangible. “By welcoming international talent and actively facilitating their integration into the university and the city, the Welcome Center not only strengthens the university but also enriches the social and academic life of Mannheim,” says Dr. Fernández Castro.

Back