Technische Universität Graz

International House of TU Graz

The International House at TU Graz promotes internationalisation through meeting zones, advice and events. It supports intercultural exchange, networking and mobility.

The International House is a great place for students to study, network and take breaks.

Objectives

The International House at TU Graz is a central location that actively promotes the internationalisation of the university. It combines freely accessible meeting zones with the offices of the International Office - Welcome Center, creating a unique blend of service, advice and community. With a variety of spaces and events, the International House supports intercultural exchange, networking and cooperation between international and local students and staff. The International House pursues several key objectives: - Promoting internationalisation: supporting students and staff with international mobility programmes and intercultural topics. - Community building: Creating a vibrant and inclusive campus life through events and activities that promote exchange and networking. - Cultural exchange: Promoting understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity. - Internationalisation@home: The International House helps to establish contacts between international and local students, lecturers and staff at TU Graz. It offers opportunities to get to know each other, exchange experiences and learn from each other - be it at events, in the meeting zones or through joint activities. - The International House contributes to the implementation of TU Graz's strategic goals, particularly in the areas of ‘open-mindedness’ and ‘internationalisation’. It offers spaces and activities that promote intercultural exchange, integrate international employees and students and also support them in mobility programmes and international cooperation.

Background

The International House was created in response to the growing importance of internationalisation at TU Graz. The aim was to create a central location that brings together international and local members of TU Graz. The development process was organised by the International Office - Welcome Center in close cooperation with the Rectorate and other organisational units of TU Graz. Internal framework conditions, such as the university's strategic focus on internationalisation, as well as external factors, such as the increasing mobility of students and staff, influenced the implementation. Following the opening of the International House in October 2022, measures and services were gradually expanded. The services and offerings of the International House were intensively developed and expanded, particularly in 2023 and continuously in 2024. This phase of vitalisation was crucial in order to sustainably pursue the goals of internationalisation and address the needs of international and local university members. As part of this process, a workshop was also organised in collaboration with the International Office and students to ensure that the offerings were tailored to the specific needs and demands of the target groups. Additionally, ongoing adjustments and improvements were made to ensure that the International House provides the greatest possible added value to its target group.

(Implemented) Activities

The International House at TU Graz promotes internationalisation through a wide range of activities, open spaces and advice. The focus is on encounters, exchange and cooperation. Facilities: - International Lounge and Kitchen: Freely accessible areas for breaks, socialising and cooking together. The kitchen is used for events and lunch breaks. - International Garden: An outdoor area for socializing and events. - International Study & Work Zone: Space for learning and working together. - Seminar and meeting rooms: For workshops, seminars and meetings, can also be booked by other TU Graz departments and student organisations - Office space of the International Office-Welcome Center The International House is not only a place for students and employees of TU Graz, but is also closely connected with external organisations and student initiatives. For example, the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) regularly uses the premises for team meetings, buddy events and other international events. The International House is open Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 17:00. Thanks to the open-door concept, students and staff can drop by at any time. The International Office - Welcome Center team is available during opening hours for special advice on student mobility or for non academic matters of international students and staff. If required, individual appointments can also be booked online to receive targeted support. In addition to the rooms, numerous events are organised at the International House to promote intercultural exchange and networking. These include intercultural awareness sessions, buddy sessions, and leisure activities such as dance classes, film evenings, and cooking and baking events. There are also information events and events for employees, such as 'Multicultural snacks for the lunch break'.

Results

Numerous positive developments have been achieved since the opening of International House: - Good occupancy rate of the facility: The meeting rooms are regularly booked, the open spaces are used by students during breaks and for study sessions, and the International Kitchen is used for both larger cooking sessions and individual lunch breaks. - Positive feedback: Both students and staff appreciate the welcoming atmosphere and the many ways in which the facilities can be used. - Promoting networking: The events and facilities have helped to strengthen links between international and local students at the university. - More contact with other departments: The spaces are also used by other organisational units at TU Graz, which promotes collaboration and exchange between different departments. - One-stop shop for students: Students can learn and network in the International House and at the same time clarify their questions directly with International Office staff. The added value for the target groups lies in the creation of a place that not only offers practical support, but also conveys a sense of community and belonging.

Lessons learned

Valuable experience was gained during the realisation of the International House, which highlighted the strengths and challenges of the project: - The premises are used intensively by students, staff and external organisations such as the Erasmus Student Network (ESN). - The combination of open meeting zones, work areas and the offices of the International Office - Welcome Center has proven to be effective. Students benefit from a one-stop shop that combines learning, networking and counselling. - Events promote intercultural exchange and strengthen networking between international and local students and staff. Challenges and solutions: - Use by different target groups: House and ktichen rules have been introduced to facilitate respectful interaction when using the rooms. These rules are communicated at introductory events in order to create a common understanding. - Reachability of national students: Info screens, notice boards, Welcome Days and direct conversations are used to increase visibility among this target group. Collaboration with other departments is essential to support this goal. - Organisational challenges: Clear team coordination and task allocation enabled the successful implementation of regular staff attendance. Lessons learnt: - A central location such as the International House makes internationalisation visible and tangible. - Clear rules and communication are crucial for harmonious co-operation in an intercultural environment. - Cooperation with other departments and organisations strengthens networking and acceptance. - The one-stop-shop approach is appreciated by students as it combines learning, networking and counselling. - Good team organisation is necessary to overcome challenges such as covering opening hours.

Intercultural Awareness Sessions for students and staff provide insights into Austrian culture and raise awareness of intercultural topics.

The International Study & Work Zone can be booked by TU Graz students and staff for studying and group work.

Employees of the International Office advise on stays abroad

Internationalisation Award 2025

1. place in category Gelebte internationale Hochschulkultur

Further links