One Year of Joint Welcome Services for New Residents

Around 3,000 people move to Bayreuth every year—some temporarily, others permanently, making it their new home. Relocating to a new city or region comes with many questions and tasks: Where do I need to register? Which school is best for my child? How can I secure a place in a kindergarten? And how can I quickly make new connections? Those moving from abroad also need to navigate visa-related matters. This is exactly where the joint “Welcome Services” of the City of Bayreuth and the University of Bayreuth come into play.

Welcome Services

The Welcome Services Bayreuth support and advise newly arriving professionals, apprentices, students, and researchers from Germany and abroad during their onboarding process. As part of a memorandum of understanding signed in November 2023, the City and the University have committed to joining forces and leveraging synergies. As a result, there has been a joint website and a service point at RW21 for the past year, where staff from both the City and the University are available for in-person, multilingual consultations twice a week.

Through close cooperation with local authorities, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce for Upper Franconia Bayreuth, and the Chamber of Crafts for Upper Franconia, the Welcome Services provide preliminary guidance, easing the burden on government offices and helping newcomers navigate the often-challenging bureaucracy with confidence. This advisory service is entirely free of charge.

Matthias Mörk from the City of Bayreuth’s Economic Development department and Thorsten Parchent from the University of Bayreuth’s International Office head the Welcome Services and view this collaboration as a forward-looking initiative: “Both the City and the University are committed to attracting talent to the region. Given limited resources and a high demand for skilled professionals, joining forces is the logical step. This concept is unique across Germany and urgently needed in times of increasing labour mobility and skills shortages,” says Parchent. Matthias Mörk adds: “Our consultations often cover multiple topics at once, such as job searches, childcare, or finding accommodation. This saves time and effort for everyone involved. Additionally, we offer monthly newcomer tours, where new residents can get to know the city and start building connections.”

A Win-Win for the City and the University

All parties benefit from this close collaboration. The University gains better access to city authorities, which in turn develop a deeper understanding of the University’s and local businesses’ needs and challenges. By coordinating more effectively, internal processes can be improved and streamlined for all involved.

A prime example of this is the strong and trusting relationship that has developed with the Immigration Office. The teams working in the Welcome Services continuously learn from each other and share expertise, creating valuable synergies. Ultimately, it is the talented individuals moving to Bayreuth who benefit the most: they receive professional onboarding, leading to a smooth transition into their careers—whether through dual career support or their first job in the region.

This is particularly crucial for international professionals, who often struggle to see the potential of the region’s many “hidden champions” at first glance. “We see this very clearly in our work. Support for job seekers is in growing demand. Many newcomers reach out to the Welcome Services because they are unfamiliar with local companies, and employers often have difficulties assessing foreign qualifications,” says Matthias Mörk.

This was also the case for Lucia*, who recently moved from Spain to Bayreuth and is now searching for a job. The Welcome Services team quickly connected her with potential employers. Will she secure a position? “We’ll see. We support where needed but also encourage self-reliance,” says Mörk.

Over the past year of cooperation, there have been many such stories—each unique in terms of age, country of origin, career stage, and family situation. However, they all had one thing in common: whether from Germany or abroad, these individuals arrived in Bayreuth facing various challenges and needed a point of contact where they could receive straightforward, personal support.

The Welcome Services team members were not just advisors but also problem solvers, facilitators, and often simply good listeners. The early days in a new place can be overwhelming, and newcomers frequently face not only bureaucratic hurdles but also social and cultural questions. The Welcome Services have played a crucial role in helping them take their first steps towards integration in Bayreuth. It is a diverse and rewarding task—one that both teams carry out with sensitivity, dedication, and empathy, ensuring a lasting positive impact on the city.

Find out more: www.bayreuth-wirtschaft.de/en/welcome-service/