Getting Started Doesn’t Have to Be Hard: The Welcome Center Turns 15
For international researchers, arriving in Mannheim can be complicated — there are visas to arrange, housing to find, and plenty of personal and professional challenges to navigate. For the past 15 years, the Welcome Center has helped newcomers settle in.
“When I arrived in Mannheim, the city was new to me and quite overwhelming. Thanks to the Welcome Center, what could have been a stressful move turned into a smooth and exciting start,” says Jotham Talemwa, a GESS doctoral student from Uganda. Feedback like his reassures Welcome Center team leader Johanna Fernández Castro and her three-person team that their work makes a difference. For more than 15 years, the Welcome Center, which is part of the International Office, has been a key source of support for international researchers and their families during both short visits and longer stays in Mannheim.
The Welcome Center’s work is part of the university’s internationalization strategy, which aims to expand international exchange in teaching and research by 2028. Already, it makes a significant contribution: since opening in the spring/
More than paperwork
The Welcome Center currently supports about 250 researchers during their time in Mannheim, from the moment they arrive to their departure. A core part of the work is immigration-related guidance. “We start months before they arrive, making sure the visa process runs smoothly. Once they are here, we help with appointments with local authorities, health insurance, and employment contracts,” says Julia Potapov, who has been advising researchers on residence-related legal matters for more than eight years.
The Welcome Center also operates the Guesthouse, managed by Uwe Fruth, which provides 31 centrally located apartments for short-term and transitional stays. “The Guesthouse is a real advantage for our university — many institutions can’t offer anything like it,” Fernández Castro says.
Throughout their time in Mannheim, international researchers can continue to rely on the Welcome Center for support. “You shouldn’t underestimate how demanding it is to start a life in another country. Questions and challenges keep coming up,” Fernández Castro explains. Regular events give newcomers opportunities to connect with others and get to know the city.
Looking ahead with confidence
To accomplish its mission, the team works closely with various university departments, the local immigration office, and similar units at other universities. The Welcome Center is also an accredited partner in the EURAXESS network, which connects international researchers worldwide.
A major challenge in recent years was the COVID-19 pandemic. “Some researchers and their families were stranded here and couldn’t fly home because flights were canceled or their visas had expired,” Potapov recalls. “It was a very difficult time, but we learned a great deal from it. In the end, experiences like that make you stronger.”
For that reason, the Welcome Center remains confident about the future despite ongoing global uncertainty. “We have to keep adapting to changing circumstances,” Fernández Castro says. “That way we can continue to support international researchers as effectively as possible—after all, that’s what we do best.”
Text: Julia Schöfthaler / April 2026
