Group Work, Presentations and Professors: Academic Culture at the University of Stuttgart

Have you ever noticed that universities in Germany are very different from those in the rest of the world? Not necessarily because they teach in German or use a completely new teaching method, but because of the essence and culture that develop between professors and students. A place of learning turns into a circle of support and a kind of comfort zone.

To begin with, professors would deserve an entire blog just for them, but to summarize, they always seek to bring out the best version of their students. There is this belief that at university it doesn’t really matter whether you attend classes or not since “no one would notice,” but I have seen the collective enthusiasm created by professors who go beyond their job and find real passion in teaching. Not only so that you pass the exam, but to plant in you a seed of curiosity or to give you that push that drives you to pursue a goal. They are usually open to listening to you in person or replying to your emails, responding from a place of humanity and not just out of duty.

Something interesting I have noticed is that university classes are not limited only to the walls of the buildings, but expand through the streets of the city, making it something unique. I have seen outdoor projects, constructions to improve comfort, excursions to museums, and meetings in bars. I feel that going out also opens students’ perspectives and doesn’t trap them only within what is taught. Celebrations under the light of the moon and the sun. And I have always been surprised by how the university stops being just a physical study space and becomes an emotional space for every student, from the moment they leave their home.

In addition, the university encourages healthy relationships between students, creating spaces for sports, relaxation, and even fun, such as events, presentations, marches, competitions, etc. Since my first week as an Ersti, I felt welcomed by a warm introductory meeting and then a party inside the university organized by senior students, with whom you can talk and ask for advice or help (stuvus). Another form of connection is through group work proposed by the university. Of course, it depends a lot on the degree you study, but architecture projects, engineering Praktikum, or group assignments in Vorlesungen bring together students who can find people with similar interests.

From Quito to Stuttgart: Experiencing Two Very Different Campus Worlds

A few weeks ago, I went back to Ecuador (my home) to visit my parents and had the opportunity to visit Universidad San Francisco de Quito, one of the best universities in Ecuador. From the entrance, the contrast was more than evident: an impenetrable wall with guards denying entry to anyone who doesn’t carry an ID. I understand they do it for safety, but their hostility reminded me of my surprise when I first saw that many universities in Germany are always open: you can participate as an auditor and/or use their facilities if necessary. I also attended a class, where the teaching method reminded me a lot of my school days: a professor taking attendance to ensure no one is absent, followed by a review of daily or weekly homework. I truly appreciate the German system, because the same freedom they grant strengthens the self-learning spirit of each student and allows them to choose the path that is most suitable for them.

Whether you are new or about to graduate, we are all the ones who give essence to our university’s culture, and in the same way, it is our duty to keep nurturing a unique and healthy environment. All of this makes the academic culture at the University of Stuttgart something very different from the traditional systems in other universities around the world. Has your experience at the University of Stuttgart surprised you as much as mine did?

José