International students and employees at Technische Universität Ilmenau: their sense of belonging, communication, integration, living and working conditions ; results of an empirical study and recommendations

Over the past decade, the number of international students in Germany has been steadily increasing. In the state of Thuringia, this growth has been particularly significant, with the number of international students rising by nearly 200% between 2017 and 2023. This upward trend is also reflected at Technische Universität Ilmenau. This study explores the experiences and conditions of international students and staff at TU Ilmenau, with a particular focus on how they communicate and interact, their sense of belonging to the university, and the factors that influence this sense of belonging. A survey of 258 international students and 87 international staff members at TU Ilmenau reveals that experiences of negative treatment by others, exclusion, discrimination, and racism significantly reduce individuals’ sense of belonging. In contrast, a perceived ease of studies, high study satisfaction, and good working conditions were found to strengthen their sense of belonging. This study not only provides a descriptive overview of the situation of international students and staff at TU Ilmenau, but also offers analysis, discussion, and practical recommendations.