At Hof University of Applied Sciences, internationality is not just a buzzword, but a living reality – and not just in the lecture halls. Around 40 percent of students come from abroad, and the academic and research support staff are also becoming increasingly diverse: employees from around 20 nations now work in administration and research. Three of them – from Taiwan, Ukraine and Syria – report with a twinkle in their eyes on culture shocks, language confusion and small and big moments of happiness in Upper Franconia. And they show how diverse their tasks at the university are – from program management to water research and artificial intelligence.
Shuyi Yang is originally from Taiwan and has been in Germany since 2017. After working in Leipzig, she has been working at Hof University of Applied Sciences since the end of 2024 – in Program Management at the Graduate School. There, she guides international applicants through the selection process, provides advice throughout their studies and ensures that they have a successful start to university life in Germany. Her day-to-day work is characterized by communication, structure – and the occasional aha moment.
An example? “The first time I heard the word ‘cable clutter’, I had to laugh – but it fits in so well with the German penchant for order.” In general: Germany is “in order”, in the best sense of the word. The fact that people here sit alone in the canteen or go for a walk as a matter of course was strange to her at first – today she really enjoys her newly discovered me time.
Research under power: modeling meets migration
Natalia Zhukova came to Germany because of the war in Ukraine and began working with the Institute for Sustainable Water Systems (inwa) as part of an application for a scholarship for Ukrainian scientists. Although the application was not approved, the connection remained – and became a professional opportunity. Today, she works as a research assistant at inwa and is involved in the synthesis and mathematical modeling of the dynamics of automatic control systems of technological processes, the study and development of energy-efficient methods for controlling the optimal distribution of energy in technological processes of water infrastructure, especially in wastewater treatment processes.
Natalia also had to deal with other “vortices” at first: the German bureaucracy. “It was really challenging at first – but the direct communication helped me.” Today, she particularly appreciates the security and structure in Germany – and the openness at the university. “The teamwork here is very supportive. You never feel like you’re alone.”
Artificial intelligence, genuine hospitality
Alaa Al Najjar, from Syria, came to Hof in 2023 – initially as a student on the Master’s degree course in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, today he is a research assistant at the Institute for Information Systems (iisys). There, he works on topics that seem to be from the future: radar systems, digital twins and autonomous driving. However, his start in university life was anything but digital: “After my first lecture, everyone was banging on the table – at first I thought something had happened!” Today he knows: it was applause. And one of many small cultural differences that he takes with humor.
His experience of Germany? “The work culture is very good. And the nature – especially here in Upper Franconia – is beautiful.” What he advises new specialists: Keep at it. Have patience. And don’t get discouraged. It took him nine months to find his first job – but it was worth it.
Communication with heart – and occasional misunderstandings
All three know that language is more than just grammar. For Shuyi Yang, learning German is a key to true integration: “You don’t just speak to the head, you speak to the heart.” Natalia Zhukova remembers a scene from language school with a smile: “I said that I talk to my husband every evening. The teacher was shocked and asked me why we were arguing so often – but I just meant that we were learning together.” Misunderstandings like this are part of it – and often make working together more human.
The feeling of having arrived
Three stories, three personalities – and a shared feeling of having arrived. Hof University of Applied Sciences benefits from the diversity of its employees – not only professionally, but also on a personal level. Between cable clutter, knocking signals and breakfast nostalgia, it becomes clear that internationality is not a goal, but a reality that has long been lived.
