For many young people from all over Germany, a new and exciting phase of life is now beginning at Nordhausen UAS: the time of study.

UAS President Prof Dr Jörg Wagner welcomed a total of 565 students in two events - divided into the two faculties of Economics and Social Sciences and Engineering.

In addition to words of welcome from Hannelore Haase, Head of the Department of Culture, Education and Generations and 2nd Deputy Mayor of Nordhausen, Lord Mayor Dr Klaus Zeh, the Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Prof. Dr Stefan Zahradnik, the Vice Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Prof. Dr Thomas Link, and the Chairman of the Student Council, Lars Domes, there was also music from students of the Staatliches Studienkolleg.

During the matriculation ceremony of the Department of Engineering, Baoyuan Gong from China received the DAAD Prize, endowed with €1,000, which is awarded annually by the German Academic Exchange Service to honour international students with outstanding academic achievements as well as outstanding social and cultural commitment. In the laudatory speech by Rio Rathje, lecturer for special tasks in the Department of Engineering, the focus was not only on the student's excellent grades and practical skills.

Mr Gong began his studies in regenerative energy technology in the summer semester of 2013. In addition to his studies at Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences, Mr Gong is also enrolled at Bohai University in China to complete an engineering degree. Despite the multiple workload, Mr Gong achieves excellent study and examination results. He is also involved as a tutor in the field of technical mechanics and teaches his native language both at the FHN and at the Nordhausen District Adult Education Centre.

He is also the counsellor for Chinese students at the Studienkolleg and acts as an interpreter between the Studienkolleg and Chinese universities. His duties as a student counsellor include picking up and accommodating newly arrived Chinese students at the Studienkolleg, assisting with visits to the authorities and finding accommodation as well as relocation trips.

Mr Gong also impresses with his outstanding organisational skills. In March 2014, he took on the organisation of a study trip to China, which was financed by PROMOS funds from the DAAD. From Germany, he arranged appointments with universities and companies for visits and organised the approx. 3,200 km trip within the country.

After the award ceremony, this year's campus rally organised by the StuRa started, where initiatives, student councils, cooperation partners and clubs introduced themselves to the new students. There was also the traditional welcome bag, filled with a pen, notebook and bookmark, a gift from the university to the new students.

The introductory week continues with a sports day, lots of useful information events about studying in Nordhausen, a guided tour of the traditional distillery, a city rally, a pub crawl and, of course, a big graduation party.