Last updated on May 13th, 2025 at 04:49 pm
Tübingen-Süd Afrika – A life-changing Expedition:
Our transcendent journeys take you to beautiful Germany in a truly inspiring and life-changing Tübingen-Süd-Afrika program.
Be inspired as two countries unite academically and culturally to form a beautiful and memorable bond.
[Barbara Owen of Tübingen Universität submitted this story to the publication.]
Welcome to beautiful Tübingen, Germany where history, the arts, education and community events are the heart of its people. Interestingly, the city is in fact two cities rolled into one. There’s the old city, or Altstadt which is steeped in history. Winding cobbled lanes that run through it lead to various historical and intriguing places.
Some of the world’s most celebrated forefathers of literature once called Tübingen home. Goethe, Hölderlin and many others found inspiration in art galleries, cafés, perfectly landscaped gardens, and along the bountiful Neckar River banks.
Then there’s the new city, or Neustadt which could easily turn into anyone’s favorite shopping mecca. The city of Tübingen is a true reflection of how the historical features of any place can be preserved and amalgamated with new architectural, technological and cultural advances.
Tübingen is also home to one of the world’s oldest universities. At 538 years old, Eberhard Karls Univesität Tübingen, aka University of Tuebingen, has played host to many a great scholar, including the likes of Tony Blair.
The University’s history began in 1477, when Count Eberhard “the Bearded” of Württemberg founded the University. In Tübingen’s historical center there is hardly a building or a square that is not linked to a renowned scholar. Tübingen notables include Hegel, Hölderlin and Schelling, Mörike and Uhland, Johannes Kepler and Wilhelm Schickard.
Tübingen today remains a place of research and teaching. In addition to the nearly 84,000 inhabitants, there are some 28,500 German and international students. Some 450 professors and more than 4000 other academic staff teach at the University’s seven faculties.
The most stunning beauty can often be found in the most unexpected places. Tübingen is a true miracle of nature.
Diane Grace Wessels
University of Tuebingen – International Profile:
The University of Tuebingen, situated in the centre of Europe is a reputed and renowned address for international students and academic staff alike. It is actively involved in international exchange programmes including numerous interchanges within the Erasmus framework. Student mobility is pronounced with more than 3000 international students attending the university on an annual basis. One third of these are scholarship holders or exchange programme participants. Approximately 1000 German students go abroad annually.
Furthermore, a large number of visiting lecturers (among them many Humboldt and Fulbright Scholars) come to Tübingen on a regular basis to participate in teaching and research, while their Tübingen colleagues are highly sought after and respected abroad. More than 100 international cooperative programmes have been set up with partner universities in North America, Asia (China, Japan and India), Latin America, South Africa, as well with universities throughout Europe.
In South Africa, the university is actively involved in an academic and cultural programme that allows for partner university students to travel abroad to experience Germany – its education, culture, history, languages, and cuisine. In exchange, the South African students carry with them a token of South Africa as they know it, which makes for a shared learning experience.
January is a chilly winter month in Germany, however, students receive a very warm welcome from staff at the university’s Abteilung für Deutsch als Fremdsprache und Interkulturelle Programme (Department of International Affairs, German as a Foreign Language and Intercultural Programmes).
The beating of the African drum and the sounds of a proud people echoed through the corridors of Tübingen’s City Hall. The South Africans had arrived!
The Tübingen – South Africa Program is a cultural and language exchange program for South African students aiming to expose them to German culture and language. It also aims to bring about closer ties and understanding between the two countries. Students spend a month in Tübingen in a program designed to provide a broad spectrum of knowledge in a wide variety of subjects, from language to history to economics; as well as factory visits and sightseeing excursions which makes for an exciting month of multi-faceted learning.
The program is run by Eberhard Karls Universität, Tübingen’s Department of International Affairs, German as a Foreign Language and Intercultural Programs in cooperation with Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch. Established in the year 2000, it is funded by the Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts of Baden-Württemberg and other sponsors. Participants are students from South African universities situated in our partner provinces: Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Western Cape.
In 2004, when the programme was in its fifth year, then Group Leader Holger Wagner made the following observation: “When we started the programme we were uncertain as to whether it would work or not but now I am proud to say I am celebrating its 5th birthday with such an enthusiastic group. However, the success of this program relies on the way we as South African participants conduct our lives and relations after the program”. Tübingen – Süd-Afrika
The testimonials of students who have undergone the life-changing program speak volumes about its impact.
At the culmination of the 2004 program, Marli van Wyngaard of Potchefstroom University reflected soulfully on one of the program’s many educational excursions:
Hike to Bebenhausen Monastery (25-01-04)
“The earth covered in a white blanket of snow created the perfect start for a perfect day. We started hiking at 13:00 and the whole hike should rather be classified as a snowball fight than a hike. The snow was rather irresistible for [those of] us South Africans who are only used to sunshine and beaches, and white balls of snow were constantly flying through the air. Even our kind guide, Eduard, was not spared and had to take a battering.
It was only when we entered the Bebenhausen Monastery that the fighting ceased. The cloister, which was built toward the end of the 15th century, as well as the rest of the monastery, enchanted all of us and for a moment we were taken back in time. I felt that the peace and tranquillity which existed there years ago, were still present and for a while I expected to see a monk pass by any second. The simplicity of the monks’ bedrooms on the one hand, and the beauty of their artworks on the other, illustrated and emphasized their dedication to God and their beliefs. The visit was very touching and insightful and I enjoyed learning (and to a certain extent, experiencing) a bit about this lifestyle. This day will certainly be engraved in my memories forever.”
Cailene Murray on culture – Through Another’s Eyes:
Intercultural communication
“Culture is not innate, it is nurtured and can only be grown by encountering other cultures. Our encounters with other cultures began the moment we stepped off our planes and met up for the first time. In a single room, there were people who were all from polar cultures coming together to travel to another new culture. We were challenged to accept one another, thus broadening our own perspective of what our culture is. We united in this journey over the seas and discovered that, although we thought we were different from one another, others saw us as different from them too. We define ourselves by identifying our differences with others, but we began to realize that we had to take the identification of others into consideration and our perspectives will never be the same.
We arrived, a loud group of ‘cold’ South Africans, and we will leave a loud group of ‘cold’ South Africans with a new respect for the German people.
My experience in Tübingen has shown me that although I am from the same country as the other students, we are all different and our culture cannot be defined as a single entity. I will now aim to embrace other cultures and attempt to incorporate it into my own view of the world, as my culture does not have to remain a statue but it can still be moulded like a piece of art.”
- University of Johannesburg student Kwanele Pakati’s global perspective:
I am a Global Citizen from Africa:
“From the high rise buildings of Johannesburg, the busy freeways, streets bustling with people of all colours, to the diverse and vibrant UJ student culture, the anticipation and the excitement engulfed everyone when the day finally arrived to depart from Johannesburg en-route to Germany.
Being a global citizen allows one to move out of their comfort zones and embracing diversity which can be in any form such as culture, religion, ethnicity, economic, gender and race. I believe it allows an individual to be ready to answer the global call of “courageous leadership”.
The welcome from a wonderful woman, Barbara Owen, who knew nothing about all of us, yet she welcomed everyone like a mother who had waited for their beloved child to come home made everyone feel at home, (got several hugs as a matter of fact).
The role of ‘Internationalisation’.
I would like to commend the South African universities who have already intensified their internationalisation strategies so as to reach out to many students as well as to urge those who haven’t, to capitalise on these great opportunities and find ways to ensure the progressive realisation of these opportunities by their students.
No preparation can ever get one to be ready for culture shock such as the way of life, the bread, the beer and the efficient public transport system. However, as a global citizen I just embraced the rich culture and owned this unparalleled opportunity initiative.
I am definitely taking this incredible experience with me to Africa, such as recycling so as to try and lobby our governments to take responsibility, do more and build Africa’s new breed of positive thinking minds.
Here I am representing South Africa, Johannesburg, The University of Johannesburg and Africa. I dare say, I AM A GLOBAL CITIZEN FROM AFRICA!!!!”
Cher Ockhuis on the Mercedes-Benz excursion:
“One of the most exciting experiences of this trip was to visit one of the most elite car museums in the world. The name says it all, Mercedes-Benz. We got the opportunity to see first-hand how the car evolved over the decades, and how Mercedes-Benz has adapted its cars to maintain its leading position in the car industry.
The museum is absolutely breath-taking and every inch of the building shines and is polished flawlessly. The museum has seven floors and it represents unique periods from the past. We went on an individual tour of the museum where we had the chance to walk around on our own time and listened with ear phones as the guide took us on an adventure through the decades of Daimler and Mercedes-Benz. We saw all the different types of cars Mercedes-Benz has to offer, from modern cars to busses and racing cars.
An amazing opportunity:
After the tour in the museum we went to the souvenir shop to purchase Mercedes-Benz souvenirs. There was really something for everyone, from cute little model cars to beautiful golf shirts and perfume. The souvenir shop was also relatively big and had a big variety of gifts to sell.
Once we were finished at the museum we went to the Mercedes-Benz factory and customer collection department. There we were treated like customers who were collecting their brand new Mercedes-Benz and we got the royal treatment. We had a gourmet cuisine lunch in the private dining room overlooking a beautiful garden.
After lunch we saw a video of how Mercedes-Benz functions and how its workers feel, and [they] describe(d) the company for which they work. After the movie clip we went to visit the factory where the cars are made. We had the chance to see how the cars move through the assembly line and how the people and robots assemble the cars. It was so fascinating to see how a car starts off from just a big plate of metal and how the final product is so beautiful and shiny.
Overall the whole day was perfect and our group felt so blessed and fortunate to have had this amazing opportunity which we will always remember. Mercedes-Benz was definitely one of my highlights on this exchange program and I am happy to say Ich liebe Mercedes-Benz!” ■ TMLM
Contact the university by clicking on the logo link or use the following contact details:
Tel: +49 (0) 7071 29 78040, Fax: +49 (0) 7071 29 5740
E-Mail: info@uni-tuebingen.de
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