There's something going on all year round:

In the winter semester, we start with the orientation week and the first semester weekend to give our new students a successful start to their studies. Our Christmas party and the Kohltour are also fixed events in the programme.

After the break in the spring, our Re-Orientation week ensures the perfect start to the summer semester – with a colourful programme for everyone to meet, have fun and network. Together with our alumni, we also organise the alumni meeting. Our summer party marks the end of the summer semester.

These events are complemented by others such as running dinners, parties and whatever else we feel like doing. We also report regularly on what's going on in our student council in the blog under News.

Fancy a game of football? As a student body, we have our own football team, 1. FC SEM | WCM | NÖK, with which we also participate in the Uniliga tournament.
We use our WhatsApp group in the community to arrange times to play. Whether you're a beginner or a pro, everyone is welcome to join us. Just drop by and see us!

From 31 May to 1 June 2025, we visited the Lebensgarten Steyerberg with a small group of nine people as part of our student council trip and camped there for one night.

The Lebensgarten sees itself as a settlement community that is driven by the desire to live in harmony with one another and with the surrounding nature. It is part of the international ecovillage movement and, in a way, a model and research project for sustainable, community-orientated living in harmony with ecological principles.

It brings together people who want to do things differently, try out new things and drive social change. The place brings together a wide range of projects - some of which we were able to get to know during our stay.

The first project we were able to explore was the permaculture park (PaLS), which Jonas - who works there as a gardener - introduced us to. The permaculture park covers an area of eight hectares, most of which was previously used for conventional maize cultivation. In order to allow a variety of plants to grow again on the sandy, depleted soil, one of the central tasks is to build up a nutrient-rich soil with the help of compost and terra preta. Vegetables are now grown on this soil for the connected SoLaWi - according to the principles of permaculture, which aims to imitate natural cycles.

This can be seen, for example, in the design of the beds: rows of trees alternate with cultivation areas, and even within the beds, different plant species grow side by side. In one of the greenhouses, we found kohlrabi, chard and beans in a wild mix - a living example of mixed cultivation. Jonas gave us exciting insights into the numerous experiments and approaches that are being trialled here.

Another project we were able to get to know is CAIA and the CAIA Academywhich Jannes introduced to us. CAIA stands for Co-existence, Awareness-based, Intrinsically-motivated Association and has now taken over the running of the seminars in the Lebensgarten. Jannes told us how they came here as a group of friends at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic and how CAIA came about. Today, the Academy offers seminars, retreats and workshops designed to facilitate encounters, inspiration and personal development.

A central element of its work is the Inner Development Goals, which are designed to help people deal better with an increasingly complex environment and the challenges of our time. The seminar programme also includes the newly renovated University Guest House, which offers visitors the opportunity to stay in the community and in the heart of nature.

In addition to these two - now independent - projects, Ute also gave us an insight into the community of the Lebensgarten and the work of the associated association. Founded 40 years ago, this place brings together a variety of other initiatives and approaches. For example, the centre for non-violent communication is located here, and the KulturKüche is a space for various cultural events. There is also plenty else on offer: from morning dance circles in the village centre to tea ceremonies. Another stop on our tour was the community-run village shop, which provides residents with local shopping opportunities.

Many of the conversations also centred on challenges: structural issues, interpersonal conflicts, generational change or declining commitment - topics that also come up again and again in the work of the student representatives or in our own projects.

Overall, we can look back on two exciting days with many enriching impressions. It was a great opportunity to get to know each other while cooking together or sitting together in the evening, playing guitar and singing - across semester and degree programme boundaries.

A big thank you goes to Ute, Jonas, Jannes and everyone else at Lebensgarten who made this trip with all its special insights possible!

Dear SEM alumni and SEM students,
We cordially invite you to the SEM Alumni Meeting 2025 on Saturday, 17 May!
In the morning we will start with an SEM-related programme with plenty of time for networking and exchange. In the early afternoon we will go on a handcart tour in beautiful May weather!
If you would like to take part, please confirm your attendance by 20 March. You can find the link to the registration form in your semester groups or on request in the DM's.

We look forward to a great day with you!
Your SEM-Alumni Orga-Team

What an eventful semester! It all started with the orientation week, where we were warmly welcomed as new students and were able to make our first contacts. We not only enjoyed a delicious meal at the running dinner, but also got to know lots of new people. The freshers' trip to Neuharlingersiel was a real highlight - with a good atmosphere, games and a great sense of community.

The running cocktail was a great way to keep things flowing before we got together to campaign for the climate strike and send a strong signal in favour of sustainability. There was no shortage of fun either: the carnival party was colourful, loud and unforgettable, and we had a great time on the traditional cabbage tour despite the wind and weather.

We can look back on a great first semester - with lots of new friendships, shared experiences and plenty of good memories!