Graduation Ceremony: 130 international graduates from RPTU in Kaiserslautern were honored at a ceremony

This year, the RPTU and the Office of International Affairs (RefIntA) in Kaiserslautern once again held a ceremony—now in its thirteenth year—to formally bid farewell to approximately 130 master’s graduates from the international programs. The large number of participants once again attests to the popularity that the RefIntA event enjoys among international students.

Together with internal and external partners as well as guests from the university, the ISGS Family honored 130 international graduates from 20 countries on behalf of RPTU. In addition to the welcome address by the Vice President for Academic Affairs in Kaiserslautern, Dr. Stefan Löhrke, and the laudatory and informative remarks by the co-presidents of RPTU, Prof. Dr. Arnd Poetzsch-Heffter and Prof. Dr. Gabriele E. Schaumann, the graduation speech by Sadaf Rezaei, a Master’s graduate from Iran (Cognitive Science degree program, Department of Social Sciences), was also part of the official program. She spoke about the difficult conditions students faced during the pandemic and about the ability of the graduates in attendance to nevertheless find the strength and motivation to successfully complete their studies at RPTU in Kaiserslautern.

Following a moving slideshow that reminded them of the wonderful moments from their time as students with RPTU in Kaiserslautern, the alumni were invited onto the stage one by one to commemorate the occasion by receiving their certificates in an international group photo with representatives from the university and the departments. Entertainment and a joyful atmosphere were provided by artistic performances from students and graduates of RPTU in Kaiserslautern: the Iranian “Baloot” band performed one English and one Iranian song on stage, and the Indian band “Jal Tarang”—accompanied on this occasion by two dancers—familiarized the audience with Indian music and dance culture.

Special thanks go once again this year to the sponsors of the celebration for the approximately 350 participants and guests. We would like to give special thanks here to the Networked Systems Research Group (Professor Reinhard Gotzhein) and the Friends of RPTU in Kaiserslautern.

Following a successful celebration and get-together, the ISGS (RefIntA) wishes its international graduates all the best for a bright future and looks forward with anticipation to the 14th anniversary planned for next year.